a prize was offered - or rather two prizes, a large one and a small one - for the greatest speed shown, not in just one race, but by one who had been racing for the whole year.
"i won the first prize," said the hare. "of course, one can expect justice when one's own family and good friends are members of the jury; but for the snail to have received the second prize i consider almost an insult to me!"
"no," assured the fence rail, who had been witness to the distribution of prizes. "you have to consider diligence and good will. several very worthy persons made that remark to me, and i quite agree with it. of course, the snail took a whole six months to cross the threshold, but he broke his thighbone in his haste, for haste it was for him. he devoted himself entirely to this race; and he even ran with his house on his back. all this is very commendable, and so he was awarded second prize."
"i think my claims ought to have received consideration," said the swallow. i believe no one has shown himself swifter than i, in flight and motion. and where haven't i been? far, far away!"
"that's just your trouble," said the fence rail. "you don't settle down enough. you're always going somewhere, leaving the country when it begins to freeze here. you haven't any love for your fatherland, so you can't claim any consideration in it."
"but suppose i slept the whole winter through on the moor," asked the swallow, "slept my whole time away. then would i deserve to be considered?
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