Horace Elisha Scudder

The Tortoise and the Hare

A Hare once made fun of a Tortoise.

"What a slow way you have!" he said. "How you creep along!"

"Do I?" said the Tortoise. "Try a race with me, and I will beat you."

"You only say that for fun," said the Hare. "But come! I will race with you. Who will mark off the bounds, and give the prize?"

"Let us ask the Fox," said the Tortoise.

The Fox was very wise and fair. He showed them where they were to start, and how far they were to run.

The Tortoise lost no time. She started at once, and jogged straight on.

The Hare knew he could come to the end in two or three jumps. So he lay down and took a nap first. By and by he awoke, and then ran fast. But when he came to the end, the Tortoise was already there!

Slow and steady wins the race.