The Hare (moving toward the neighbors): Listen! Oh, such a joke! The tortoise is going to race with me to the river.
Neighbors: Oh, what fun! Let us be the judges. We will run over to the river to mark a goal. (They go.)
The Hare (yawning): If it isn’t too funny to see the poor old tortoise jogging along. It will not take me ten minutes to get to the goal. I guess I will lie down and take a nap, for I am a little tired. (He lies down, stretches himself out, and goes to sleep.)
The Tortoise (moving slowly): Slow—and—steady—slow—and—steady. One, two, three, four. It is hard work to race, but I will keep on trying. I will keep on trying—just a little way at a time. Just—a—little—at—a—time.
The Hare (waking up and looking about him): Why, I must have overslept! Dear me, I don’t see the tortoise! Why, if that slow fellow should win the race, I should be the laughing-stock of all the neighbors. Maybe I should be written down in a fable! But pshaw! I shall overtake him just around the turn.
The Tortoise (crossing the goal): Slow—and—steady—slow—and—steady.
Group of Neighbors (clapping their hands): Slow and steady wins the race. You win, Mr. Perseverance.
The Hare (bounding over the goal just a minute too late): Oh, if I had only kept on! If I only had not stopped for a nap! Did the tortoise win?
Neighbors: Ha, ha, ha! just one minute too late! Mr. Tortoise wins!