The Lark and Her Young Ones

英语自学网

The Lark and Her Young Ones
        A LARK had made her nest in the early spring on the young green
        wheat.  The brood had almost grown to their full strength and
        attained the use of their wings and the full plumage of their
        feathers, when the owner of the field, looking over his ripe
        crop, said, "The time has come when I must ask all my neighbors
        to help me with my harvest."  One of the young Larks heard his
        speech and related it to his mother, inquiring of her to what
        place they should move for safety.  "There is no occasion to move
        yet, my son," she replied; "the man who only sends to his friends
        to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest."  The owner
        of the field came again a few days later and saw the wheat
        shedding the grain from excess of ripeness.  He said, "I will
        come myself tomorrow with my laborers, and with as many reapers
        as I can hire, and will get in the harvest."  The Lark on hearing
        these words said to her brood, "It is time now to be off, my
        little ones, for the man is in earnest this time; he no longer
        trusts his friends, but will reap the field himself."
       
        Self-help is the best help.