The tale of a grasshopper

Autumn was coming to an end. All the insects and animals were working very hard to stock their larders with enough food to last them during the winter. They all knew that winter time would be tough - it would be cold and food would be scarce. As it would get dark really soon, it would be difficult to go looking for food.

Therefore, everyone was working hard, all except Mr Grasshopper. He loved autumn. Autumn was a time when the leaves changed colour. It was all so so pretty. The trees seemed to be on fire with red, yellow and orange leaves, which then fell off and covered the ground. There was a pleasant breeze too.

Preparing for Winter

Mr Grasshopper spent his days playing. He jumped from leaf to leaf and from one fallen twig to another.

What he liked best was the way the leaves bounced when he jumped off them, and how the leaf he landed on swayed with his weight.

“Yooo eeeeee. Life is lovely, the world is beautiful,I want to play forever...” he sang.

Just then little Miss Ant happened to pass by. She was dragging a heavy grain of rice behind her. “Oowf. This is so heavy. I wish I could get some help with this. I should have asked my brother to come along to help me,” she was muttering. “Oh, do you need help?” asked Mr Grasshopper.

“Yes, Sir. Would you give me a hand? My ant hill is just a few trees away, but this is so heavy,” replied the ant happily. “Naw. First you come and play with me for some time, then I shall gladly help you.

What are you toiling for anyway? Autumn is so beautiful, you too should enjoy the weather while you can,” the grasshopper said.

“No, Mr Grasshopper. You too must start collecting your food for the winter. Otherwise it will be tough as there won’t be anything to eat,” said the concerned ant.

“Nothing doing. I will go out and find all the food I want when I am hungry. Right now it is time to play and have a party,” the silly grasshopper replied. So Miss Ant just shook her head and went on -“Huff, puff, huff, puff.”

Then winter came. It was so cold that the ants didn’t dare to come out. But their tummies were full and they were warm and happy.

Actually, everyone was warm and happy, except Mr Grasshopper. He was cold and hungry. As he went hunting for food only when it was less cold than usual, he got very little to eat and soon became weak with hunger.

“Oh, why did I spend my days playing? I should have listened to the ant...” he thought with regret.

[Grasshopper Green]

Author Unknown
Grasshopper Green is a comical chap;
He lives on the best of fare.
Bright little trousers, jacket, and cap,
These are his summer wear.
Out in the meadow he loves to go,
Playing away in the sun;
It’s hopperty, skipperty, high and low,
Summer’s the time for fun.
Grasshopper Green has a quaint little house;
It’s under the hedge so gay.
Grandmother Spider, as still as a mouse,
Watches him over the way.
Gladly he’s calling the children, I know,
Out in the beautiful sun;
It’s hopperty, skipperty, high and low,
Summer’s the time for fun.

The grasshopper and the toad

Grasshopper and Toad appeared to be good friends. People always saw them together. Yet they had never dined at each other’s houses. One day Toad said to Grasshopper, “Dear friend, tomorrow come and dine at my house. My wife and I will prepare a special meal. We will eat it together.”

The next day Grasshopper arrived at Toad’s house. Before sitting down to eat, Toad washed his forelegs, and invited Grasshopper to do the same. Grasshopper did so, and it made a loud noise.

“Friend Grasshopper, can’t you leave your chirping behind. I cannot eat with such noise,” said Toad.

Grasshopper tried to eat without rubbing his forelegs together, but it was impossible. Each time he gave a chirp, Toad complained and asked him to be quiet. Grasshopper was angry and could not eat. Finally, he said to Toad: “I invite you to my house for dinner, tomorrow.”

The next day, Toad arrived at Grasshopper’s home. As soon as the meal was ready, Grasshopper washed his forelegs, and invited Toad to do the same. Toad did so, and then hopped toward the food.

“You had better go back and wash again,” said Grasshopper. “All that hopping in the dirt has made your forelegs dirty again.” Toad hopped back to the water jar, washed again, then hopped back to the table, and was ready to reach out for some food from one of the platters when Grasshopper stopped him: “Please don’t put your dirty paws into the food. Go and wash them again.” Toad was furious.

“You just don’t want me to eat with you!” he cried.“You know very well that I must use my paws and forelegs in hopping about. I cannot help it if they get a bit dirty between the water jar and the table.”

Grasshopper responded, “You are the one who started it yesterday. You know I cannot rub my forelegs together without making a noise.” From then on, they were no longer friends. Moral: If you wish to have true friendship with someone, learn to accept each other’s faults, as well as each other’s good qualities. -

Internet