J. H. Stickney

The Mule and the Grasshoppers

A MULE, hearing some Grasshoppers chirping, was much pleased with the sound, and wished that he could make such sweet music.

"What sort of food do you eat," said he to the Grasshoppers, "that your voices are so charming?"

The Grasshoppers replied, "We live upon dew."

The Mule then decided that he too would live upon dew. And in a short time he died of hunger, just from trying to do what he saw others doing, without first learning their reason for it.