Class 8 English The Ant and the Cricket

The Ant and the Cricket

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing

Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,

Began to complain when he found that, at home,

His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.

Not a crumb to be found

On the snow-covered ground;

Not a flower could he see,

Not a leaf on a tree.

“Oh! what will become,” says the cricket, “of me?”

This is a poem about a silly young cricket. The cricket used to enjoy his good times during favourable season. But when the winter arrives the cricket cann’t find a morsel to eat. Most animals are known to store some extra food which will last them the bad weather. But the silly cockroach didn’t plan for the future.

At last by starvation and famine made bold,

All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,

Away he set off to a miserly ant,

To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant

Him shelter from rain,

And a mouthful of grain.

He wished only to borrow;

He’d repay it tomorrow;

If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

Now the silly cricket can foresee a bleak future ahead, so thinks of going to a miser ant to borrow food and to get shelter. It plans to repay during favourable weather.

Says the ant to the

cricket, “I’m your servant

and friend,

But we ants never borrow;

we ants never lend.

But tell me, dear cricket,

did you lay nothing by

When the weather was

warm?” Quoth the cricket,

“Not I!

My heart was so light

That I sang day and night,

For all nature looked gay.”

“You sang, Sir, you say?

Go then,” says the ant, “and dance the winter away.”

Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.

Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:

Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

The ant gives a very important lesson of life during its conversation with the cricket. Ant says that ants neither borrow from somebody nor lend to somebody. Ants are hardworking creatures and save for the future. The ant asks the cricket what it was doing during happier times. On hearing the cricket indulged in dancing and singing and making merry, the ant asks the cricket to try dancing and singing once again during rough times.

This is a good lesson for human beings as well. It is good to enjoy happy moments but while doing so we should not ignore our future. Careful planning ensures a secure future for everyone.