Stranica 91 [91]
Pee CASTILE OF LIFE
coming, talking to their neighbors, and receiving or giving
orders; some were dragging wisps of straw, others were car¬
rying bits of wood, others conveying away dead flies, and
others heaping up provisions; it was a complete winter
establishment.
“What!” said Graceful to the ants, "are you not going to
the Castle of Life? Do you renounce immortality?”
‘We have worked long enough,” answered one of the
laborers; "the time for harvest has come. The road is long
and the future uncertain, and we are rich. Let fools count
on to-morrow; the wise man uses to-day. Whena person has
hoarded riches honestly it is true philosophy to enjoy them."
Fido thought that the ant was right; but, as he no longer
dared advise, he contented himself with shaking his head as
they set out. Pensive, on the contrary, said that the ant
was a selfish fellow, and that, if life were made only for
enjoyment, the butterfly was wiser than he. At the same
time, and with a lighter wing than ever, the swallow soared
upward to lead the way.
Graceful walked on in silence. Ashamed of the follies
of the day before, although he still regretted the doe, he
resolved that on the third day nothing should turn him
aside from the road. Fido, with his mutilated ear, limped
after his master and seemed not less dreamy than he. At
noon they sought for a shady place in which to rest for a
few moments. The sun was less scorching than the day
65