The_Ant_and_the_Grasshopper蚂蚁和蚱蜢

1TheAntandtheGrasshopperWhenIwasaverysmallboyIwasmadetolearnbyheartcertainofthefablesofLaFontaine,andthemoralofeachwascarefullyexplainedtome.AmongthoseIlearntwasTheAntandTheGrasshopperwhichisdevisedtobringhometotheyoungtheusefullessonthatinanimperfectworldindustryisrewardedandgiddinesspunished.Inthisadmirablefable(Iapologizefortellingsomethingwhicheveryoneispolitely,butinexactly,supposedtoknow)theantspendsalaborioussummergatheringitswinterstore,whilethegrasshoppersitsonabladeofgrasssingingtothesun.Wintercomesandtheantiscomfortablyprovidedfor,butthegrasshopperhasanemptylarder:hegoestotheantandbegsforalittlefood.Thentheantgiveshimherclassicanswer:“Whatwereyoudoinginthesummertime?”“Savingyourpresence,Isang,Isangallday,allnight.”“Yousang.Why,thengoanddance.”Idonotascribeittoperversityonmypart,butrathertotheinconsequenceofchildhood,whichisdeficientinmoralsense,thatIcouldneverquitereconcilemyselftothelesson.MysympathieswerewiththegrasshopperandforsometimeIneversawanantwithoutputtingmyfootonit.Inthissummary(andasIhavediscoveredsince,entirelyhuman)fashionIsoughttoexpressmydisapprovalofprudenceandcommonsense.IcouldnothelpthinkingofthisfablewhentheotherdayIsawGeorgeRamsaylunchingbyhimselfinarestaurant.Ineversawanyonewearanexpressionofsuchdeepgloom.Hewasstaringintospace.Helookedasthoughtheburdenofthewholeworldsatonhisshoulders.Iwassorryforhim:Isuspectedatoncethathisunfortunatebrotherhadbeencausingtroubleagain.Iwentuptohimandheldoutmyhand.“Howareyou?”Iasked.“I”mnotinhilariousspirits,”heanswered.“IsitTomagain?”Hesighed.“Yes,it’sTomagain.”“Whydon”tyouchuckhim?You”vedoneeverythingintheworldforhim.Youmustknowbynowthathe”squitehopeless.”Isupposeeveryfamilyhasablacksheep.Tomhadbeenasoretrialtohisfortwentyyears.Hehadbegunlifedecentlyenough:hewentintobusiness,married,andhadtwochildren.TheRamsayswereperfectlyrespectablepeopleandtherewaseveryreasontosupposethatTomRamsaywouldhaveausefulandhonourablecareer.Butoneday,withoutwarning,heannouncedthathedidn”tlikeworkandthathewasn”tsuitedformarriage.Hewantedtoenjoyhimself.Hewouldlistentonoexpostulations.Helefthiswifeandhis2office.HehadalittlemoneyandhespenttwohappyyearsinthevariouscapitalsofEurope.Rumoursofhisdoingsreachedhisrelationsfromtimetotimeandtheywereprofoundlyshocked.Hecertainlyhadaverygoodtime.Theyshooktheirheadsandaskedwhatwouldhappenwhenhismoneywasspent.Theysoonfoundout:heborrowed.Hewascharmingandunscrupulous.Ihavenevermetanyonetowhomitwasmoredifficulttorefusealoan.Hemadeasteadyincomefromhisfriendsandhemadefriendseasily.Buthealwayssaidthatthemoneyyouspentonnecessitieswasboring;themoneythatwasamusingtospendwasthemoneyyouspentonluxuries.ForthishedependedonhisbrotherGeorge.Hedidnotwastehischarmonhim.Georgewasaseriousmanandinsensibletosuchenticements.Georgewasrespectable.OnceortwicehefelltoTom”spromisesofamendmentandgavehimconsiderablesumsinorderthathemightmakeafreshstart.OntheseTomboughtamotor–carandsomeverynicejewellery.ButwhencircumstancesforcedGeorgetorealizethathisbrotherwouldneversettledownandhewashedhishandsofhim,Tom,withoutaqualm,begantoblackmailhim.Itwasnotveryniceforarespectablelawyertofindhisbrothershakingcocktailsbehindthebarofhisfavouriterestaurantortoseehimwaitingonthebox–seatofataxioutsidehisclub.Tomsaidthattoserveinabarortodriveataxiwasaperfectlydecentoccupation,butifGeorgecouldobligehimwithacoupleofhundredpoundshedidn”tmindforthehonourofthefamilygivingitup.Georgepaid.OnceTomnearlywenttoprison.Georgewasterriblyupset.Hewentintothewholediscreditableaffair.ReallyTomhadgonetoofar.Hehadbeenwild,thoughtless,andselfish,buthehadneverbeforedoneanythingdishonest,bywhichGeorgemeantillegal;andifhewereprosecutedhewouldassuredlybeconvicted.Butyoucannotallowyouronlybrothertogotogaol.ThemanTomhadcheated,amancalledCronshaw,wasvindictive.Hewasdeterminedtotakethematterintocourt;hesaidTomwasascoundrelandshouldbepunished.ItcostGeorgeaninfinitedealoftroubleandfivehundredpoundstosettletheaffair.IhaveneverseenhiminsucharageaswhenheheardthatTomandCronshawhadgoneofftogethertoMonteCarlothemomenttheycashedthecheque.Theyspentahappymonththere.FortwentyyearsTomracedandgambled,philanderedwiththeprettiestgirls,danced,ateinthemostexpensiverestaurants,anddressedbeautifully.Healwayslookedasifhehadjuststeppedoutofabandbox.Thoughhewasforty–sixyouwouldneverhavetakenhimformorethanthirty–five.Hewasamostamusingcompanionandthoughyouknewhewasperfectlyworthlessyoucouldnotbutenjoyhissociety.Hehadhighspirits,anunfailinggaiety,andincrediblecharm.Inevergrudgedthecontributionsheregularlyleviedonmeforthenecessitiesofhisexistence.IneverlenthimfiftypoundswithoutfeelingthatIwasinhisdebt.TomRamsaykneweveryoneandeveryoneknewTomRamsay.Youcouldnotapproveofhim,butyoucouldnothelplikinghim.3PoorGeorge,onlyayearolderthanhisscapegracebrother,lookedsixty.Hehadnevertakenmorethanafortnight”sholidayintheyearforaquarterofacentury.Hewasinhisofficeeverymorningatnine–thirtyandneverleftittillsix.Hewashonest,industrious,andworthy.Hehadagoodwife,towhomhehadneverbeenunfaithfuleveninthought,andfourdaughterstowhomhewasthebestoffathers.Hem