One day in winter a hungry Grasshopper applied to an Ant for some of the food which they had stored.
“Why,” said the Ant, “did you not store up some food for yourself, instead of singing all the
time?”
“So I did,” said the Grasshopper; “so I did; but you fellows broke in and carried it all away.”
__________
With this accusation of perfidy Mr. Bierce jerks us away from the sententious moral, “There’s a time for work and a time for play” or ,more to the point: “Die, and let that be a lesson to you!”
Charity, a virtue, goes out the window, and smuggery prevails.
Perhaps the accusation of thievery will prompt a kinder response.
*Source: FANTASTIC FABLES By AMBROSE BIERCE, New York and London: G. P. PUTNAM & SONS, The Knickerbocker Press, 1899.
N.B. For other essays on numerous topics on leadership and literature and fables go to my Nucleus archive from 2010-early 2025.
© Copyright commentary by John Lubans 2026