The Hare and the Tortoise 
     Once there was a Hare who used to laugh scornfully at a Tortoise 
because he plodded along so slowly. “You never can get anywhere with 
those short legs of yours. Look at my long legs! They’re so swift no one
 would dare race me.”
     All the animals of field and forest were tired of hearing the Hare 
brag. At last the Tortoise said, “If we were to run a race, I’m sure I 
would beat you.”
     The animals were astonished for they knew the Tortoise was the 
slowest of them all, and the Hare, bursting into loud laughter, cried, 
“What a joke! That slowpoke thinks he can beat me! Come on, Mr. 
Tortoise, you shall see what my feet are made of. Why I can beat you 
before you are even half-started!”
“You’d better not be too sure,” cautioned the Tortoise
     All the big and little animals gathered to watch the race. At the 
signal the Hare leaped forward in a great bound and soon left the 
plodding Tortoise far behind him on the dusty road. Looking back, the 
Hare could not even see the Tortoise after a little while.
     “Hum-m, I’ve as good as won this race already,” the thought, “There’s
 really no reason to hurry.” So, as the sun was very warm, he decided to
 rest a bit under a shady tree. “I’ll come in away ahead of that 
Tortoise, anyhow,” he told himself.
     Soon he was sound asleep. the little rest streched into a good long nap.
Meantime, the Tortoise jogged steadily along on the hot, dusty road, 
ever so slowly, but surely, and soon he passed the Hare who was still 
peacefully sleeping.
     Quietly the Tortoise plodded on nearing the goal. When the Hare 
finally woke up with a start, he saw the Tortoise just reaching the 
finish line far ahead and he could hear all the animals cheering the 
winner.
     Boastful and careless, the Hare had lost the race. Now he would never again be able to count on his speed.
Moral of the story: Perseverance wins the race