THE HARE AND THE TORTOISE
A Hare one day made himself merry over
the slow pace of the Tortoise, and vainly
boasted of his own great speed in running.
The Tortoise took the laugh in good part.
"Let us try a race," she said; "I will run
with you five miles for five dollars, and the
Fox out yonder shall be the judge."
The Hare agreed, and away they started
together.
The Tortoise never for a moment stopped,
but jogged along with a slow, steady pace,
straight to the end of the course. But the
Hare, full of sport, first outran the Tortoise,
then fell behind; having come midway to the
goal, he began to nibble at the young herbage,
and to amuse himself in many ways. After
a while, the day being warm, he lay down for
a nap, saying, "If she should go by, I can
easily enough catch up."
When he woke, the Tortoise was not in
sight; and, running as fast as he could, he
found her comfortably dozing at their goal,
after her success was gained.People who are very quick are apt to be
too sure. Slow and steady often wins the
race.