"The Grasshopper approaches hat in hand, and the Ant says sorry, but no.

If the fable mentioned that the Ant enjoyed the Grasshopper's music while gathering food, there would be some issue of payment for artistic services, but Aesop never brings that up. ;)"

Hahahah. The way my grandpa told it, the grasshopper came asking and the ant said "sure, come sing and dance for us all winter long and we'll feed you! and they laughed and danced and sung all winter long"

He [grandpa] was an ant... A depression era plumber who spent his life carrying lead pipes up the stairs. He liked his life, but he did not begrudge the grass-hoppers of the world. The difference, I think, between the hard working liberal and the hard working conservative... I am an ant, too, who enjoys the company and contribution of grasshoppers. ;-)

Davin