The Little Red Hen

A little red hen found some grains of wheat scattered in the farmyard and asked her friends — the dog, the cat, and the duck — who would help her plant them. Each one answered, "Not I." So the little red hen planted them all by herself.

When the wheat grew tall and golden, the little red hen asked again who would help her reap and thresh it. Her friends gave the same answer, "Not I," so she bent to the work herself, diligent as ever.

When it was time to bake the flour into bread, the little red hen asked once more for help kneading and baking. But her friends just lay about, content, unwilling to help at all.

The smell of fresh bread drifted across the farmyard, and the dog, the cat, and the duck all came running, mouths watering, eager for a taste of the warm bread.

The little red hen asked, "Who will help me eat this bread?" This time, everyone eagerly raised their hand — but the little red hen calmly replied, "I planted it, I reaped it, I kneaded it, and I baked it. I will eat it with my own chicks." And she walked calmly inside.

Only those who put in the effort together deserve to share the reward — your own diligence is something you can always rely on.