• The Donkey and the Grasshopper

    Aesop's Fables
    One sunny afternoon, a donkey with long, floppy ears was taking a break in a field full of yummy green grass and prickly thistles. As he munched, he heard the most wonderful, chirpy, cheerful song he had ever heard.

    His big ears twitched. "My goodness!" he thought. "Who is making that lovely sound?" He looked around and saw a tiny grasshopper, sitting on a tall blade of grass, singing its heart out.

    The donkey was amazed. He trotted over. "Excuse me, little friend," brayed the donkey gently. "Your singing is just magical! Tell me, what special food do you eat to have such a beautiful voice?"

    The grasshopper stopped its song and looked down at the big donkey. "Oh, it's quite simple," chirped the grasshopper, puffing out its tiny chest a little. "I only sip the fresh morning dew."

    "Dew!" thought the donkey, his eyes wide with excitement. "That must be the secret! If I only drink dew, I'll sound just as amazing!"

    So, from that day on, the donkey turned up his nose at his tasty thistles and crunchy hay. He tried to live only on the tiny drops of dew he found on the leaves each morning.

    But a few drops of dew are not nearly enough for a big, strong donkey. Soon, he became very, very tired. He felt wobbly and weak. And did his voice become beautiful? Oh dear, no. He could barely even manage a quiet "hee-haw."

    The little grasshopper kept singing its sweet song, and the donkey learned that what's perfect for a tiny grasshopper isn't always perfect for a big, lovable donkey. He went back to his thistles and hay, feeling much better, even if his bray never sounded quite like a song.

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