The Hare and
the Tortoise
ONCE there was a Hare who used to laugh
scornfully at a Tortoise because he plodded along so slowly. "You never
can get anywhere with those short legs of yours. Look at my long legs!
They're so swift no one would dare race me."
All the animals of field and forest
were tired of hearing the Hare brag. At last the Tortoise said, "If we
were to run a race, I'm sure I would beat you."
The animals were astonished for they
knew the Tortoise was the slowest of them all, and the Hare, bursting into
loud laughter, cried, "What a joke! That slowpoke thinks he can beat me!
Come on, Mr. Tortoise, you shall see what my feet are made of. Why I can
beat you before you are even half started!"
"You'd better not be too sure," cautioned
the Tortoise
All the big and little animals gathered
to watch the race. At the signal the Hare leaped forward in a great bound
and soon left the plodding Tortoise far behind him on the dusty road. Looking
back, the Hare could not even see the Tortoise after a little while.
"Hum-m, I've as good as won this race
already," the thought, "There's really no reason to hurry." So, as the
sun was very warm, he decided to rest a bit under a shady tree. "I'll come
in away ahead of that Tortoise, anyhow," he told himself.
Soon he was sound asleep. the little
rest stretched into a good long nap.
Meantime, the Tortoise jogged steadily
along on the hot, dusty road, ever so slowly, but surely, and soon he passed
the Hare who was still peacefully sleeping.
Quietly the Tortoise plodded on nearing
the goal. When the Hare finally woke up with a start, he saw the Tortoise
just reaching the finish line far ahead and he could hear all the animals
cheering the winner.
Boastful and careless, the Hare had
lost the race. Now he would never again be able to count on his speed.
Moral of the story: Perseverance wins
the race.
another story?
back
|