In a cheerful farmyard in the English countryside, there lived a Little Red Hen. She was always busy, pecking for worms, cleaning her nest, and tending to her garden. She lived with three companions—a sleepy Dog, a lazy Cat, and a noisy Duck.
One morning, as the sun peeked over the hills, the Little Red Hen found some wheat grains in the soil.
“If I plant this wheat, I’ll have flour for bread,” she thought aloud. “Who will help me plant it?”
“Not I,” said the Dog, yawning.
“Not I,” said the Cat, stretching.
“Not I,” said the Duck, waddling away.
“Then I’ll do it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. And she did. She tilled the soil, planted the seeds, and watered the ground each day.
Weeks passed. The wheat grew tall and golden.
“Who will help me harvest the wheat?” she asked.
“Not I,” said the Dog.
“Not I,” said the Cat.
“Not I,” said the Duck.
So the Little Red Hen harvested it alone. She bundled the wheat and carried it to the mill.
“Who will help me grind the wheat into flour?” she asked.
“Not I,” barked the Dog.
“Not I,” purred the Cat.
“Not I,” quacked the Duck.
So she ground the wheat herself. That afternoon, the sweet smell of baking bread filled the air.
“Who will help me eat the bread?” the Little Red Hen asked.
“I will!” barked the Dog.
“I will!” purred the Cat.
“I will!” quacked the Duck.
But the Little Red Hen shook her head. “No, you didn’t help plant, harvest, or bake. I will eat it myself.”
And she did—every last crumb.
Moral: If you don’t share the work, you shouldn’t share the reward.
