Sheeba, the squirrel was very happy. She was hopping with joy from one branch to the other of the Mulberry tree where she lived.

She was delighted because a little boy had dropped his bag of peanuts below the Mulberry tree. She was sorry for the poor boy who must have been hungry, but at the same time she was overjoyed at the sight of the peanuts. Now, she could eat and enjoy the peanuts whenever she liked. Carefully, she tiptoed to the place where the peanuts were scattered and started eating one by one. Soon, Betty, the old squirrel from the nearby Peepal tree came along. Sheeba invited her, “Come on Betty Aunty, enjoy the peanut party.”

Betty was very happy to share the peanuts. But she was also old and wise. She spoke softly “Sheeba, let us save these peanuts for the harsh winter months when there will be little food.”

“Oh, No Betty Aunty, don't be mean. Let me enjoy today, when the winters will come, I will see.”

Betty took her share of the peanuts and hid them in a hole in the Peepal tree.

Sheeba didn't bother to pick the peanuts. She ate as much as she could and let the remaining lie there. Soon, some rats came and ate the rest. As months passed by, the cold winters came. Sheeba looked out from her tree waiting for something to eat. But there were less and less people in the park. No one dropped anything that Sheeba could eat. Sheeba was really hungry. As she looked out, Aunt Betty called out. “Sheeba have these peanuts.” Sheebacame running to Aunt Betty. “Thank you so much, I was so hungry.”

“It is thanks to you Sheeba. You shared these peanuts with me and I saved them for the winter.”

“Oh! Aunty, you had told me to do so but I did not bother. I am really sorry. I realize today, I should have listened to you. Now, I understand how important it is to save for emergencies while we can.”

“Yes, Sheeba, one must save when there is plenty. So, when the time will change and the supply is poor, you will still have something to survive.”

Moral: Save while you can as emergencies can occur anytime.

Questions:

Q1.Where did Sheeba live?

Q2. Why was Sheeba happy?

Q3. What did Aunt Betty tell Sheeba when she offered her peanuts?

Q4. What happened to Sheeba in winter?

Q5. What lesson did Sheeba learn?

Glossary

Hopping      :  jumping

Tiptoed       :  slowly

Scattered    :  to separate and distribute in different directions

Survive       :  to remain alive or in existence