The Lark and Her Young Ones

THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES There was a brood of young Larks in a field of corn, which was just ripe. The mother of the Larks looked every day for the people who would come harvest the corn. Whenever she went out in search of food, she told her young chicks that they should tell her all the news they heard. One day, when she was absent, the farmer came to look at his field. “It’s time,” said he, “to call in my neighbors and get my corn harvested.” When the mother Lark came home, the young ones told her what they had heard and begged her to move them at once. “Time enough,” said she. “If he trusts his neighbors, he will have to wait awhile for his harvest.” The next day, the farmer came again, and found the sun hotter, the corn riper, and nothing done. “There is not an hour to lose,” said he. “We cannot depend upon our neighbors. We must call in our relatives.” Turning to his son, he said, “Go, call your uncles and cousins; and see that they begin harvesting the corn tomorrow.” The young Larks, in great fear, told their mother what the farmer had said. “If that is all that you heard,” said she, “don’t be frightened. The relatives have harvest work of their own. But take notice of what you hear next time and be sure to let me know what is said.” She went abroad the next day, and when the farmer came and found the corn falling to the ground because it was over ripe, said to his son, “We must wait no longer for our neighbors and friends. Go tonight and hire some workers, and we will do the work ourselves tomorrow.” When the young Larks told their mother this, she said, “it is time for us to be off. When a man does the work for himself, instead of leaving it to others, you may be sure that he means to get the job completed.”