THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
The Hare(talking to his neighbors): Ho, ho, here comes that slow-poke, Mr. Tortoise! Look at him crawling along! Why, he doesn’t move faster than a snail! I will wish him good day. (He goes toward the tortoise.) Good morning, Mr. Tortoise; you must be tired to travel so slowly!
The Tortoise: Good morning, neighbor. No, I am not tired, and I do move slowly; but if I keep on moving, I get where I am going.
The Hare: Oh, you do, do you? Well, if I moved as slowly as you, I wouldn’t try to get to many places, I am sure.
The Tortoise: Oh, I don’t know about that. I guess if we started out for the same place, I would be there as soon as you.
The Hare: What a joke! I’ll take that up! Will you race me to the river?
The Tortoise: I will.
The Hare: Are you in earnest! Come on; you will soon see my feet fly when you race with me.
The Tortoise: Very well! I will start right away. (He goes slowly on.)
The Hare(moving toward the neighbors): Listen! Oh, such a joke! The tortoise is going to race with me to the river.
Neighbors: Oh, what fun! Let us be the judges. We will run over to the river to mark a goal. (They go.)
The Hare(yawning): If it isn’t too funny to see the poor old tortoise jogging along. It will not take me ten minutes to get to the goal. I guess I will lie down and take a nap, for I am a little tired. (He lies down, stretches himself out, and goes to sleep.)
The Tortoise(moving slowly): Slow—and—steady—slow—and—steady. One, two, three, four. It is hard work to race, but I will keep on trying. I will keep on trying—just a little way at a time. Just—a—little—at—a—time.
The Hare(waking up and looking about him): Why, I must have overslept! Dear me, I don’t see the tortoise! Why, if that slow fellow should win the race, I should be the laughing-stock of all the neighbors. Maybe I should be written down in a fable! But pshaw! I shall overtake him just around the turn.
The Tortoise(crossing the goal): Slow—and—steady—slow—and—steady.
Group of Neighbors(clapping their hands): Slow and steady wins the race. You win, Mr. Perseverance.
The Hare(bounding over the goal just a minute too late): Oh, if I had only kept on! If I only had not stopped for a nap! Did the tortoise win?
Neighbors: Ha, ha, ha! just one minute too late! Mr. Tortoise wins!
(The hare and the tortoise shake hands.)
The Hare: You have taught me two lessons, Mr. Tortoise—never give up trying; and, don’t be too sure. I congratulate you upon winning the race.
The Tortoise: Thank you. Sometimes plodders do come out ahead.
Neighbors: “Perseverance wins success.”
QUESTIONS
Why do you suppose the hare decided to take a little nap?Was it easy for the tortoise to get to the goal?Did you ever have something hard to do? Did you keep on until you finished?In your class there are some children like the slow and steady tortoise, and some like the hare who think they can rest once in a while.Are you like either one?
Why do you suppose the hare decided to take a little nap?
Was it easy for the tortoise to get to the goal?
Did you ever have something hard to do? Did you keep on until you finished?
In your class there are some children like the slow and steady tortoise, and some like the hare who think they can rest once in a while.
Are you like either one?