The Tortoise and the Hare

One sunny morning, a Hare was running along the road. He was very fast, and he knew it. As he ran, he passed a Tortoise, who was walking slowly through the grass.

'Why do you walk so slowly?' laughed the Hare. 'You will never get anywhere like that.'

The Tortoise looked up. 'I may be slow,' he said, 'but I always keep going. I think I could even win a race against you.'

The Hare laughed and laughed. 'A race? Against me? That is the funniest thing I have ever heard. Very well. Let us race to the big tree at the top of the hill.'

All the animals of the forest came to watch. A fox drew a line in the sand, and the race began. The Hare ran off so fast that soon the Tortoise was far behind.

'This is too easy,' thought the Hare. 'I have plenty of time. I will rest here for a while.' He lay down under a tree, closed his eyes, and fell fast asleep.

The Tortoise did not stop. Step by step, slowly but surely, he walked up the hill. He passed the sleeping Hare without making a sound. He kept going and going, even when his legs were tired.

At last, the Hare woke up. The sun was low in the sky. He looked down the hill, but he could not see the Tortoise anywhere. Then he looked up — and there was the Tortoise, almost at the big tree!

The Hare ran as fast as he could, but it was too late. The Tortoise touched the tree and won the race. All the animals cheered.

'Slow and steady wins the race,' said the Tortoise with a smile. 'It is better to be slow and careful than fast and lazy.' And from that day on, the Hare never laughed at the Tortoise again.