A HARE one day ridiculed1 the short feet and slow pace of the

　　Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the

　　wind, I will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her

　　assertion to be simply impossible, assented2 to the proposal; and

　　they agreed that the Fox should choose the course and fix the

　　goal. On the day appointed for the race the two started

　　together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on

　　with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course.

　　The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last

　　waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise

　　had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing3 after her

　　fatigue.

　　Slow but steady wins the race.