[Illustration: THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.]
A Lark, who had Young Ones in a field of corn which was almost ripe, was
under some fear lest the reapers should come to reap it before her young
brood were fledged, and able to remove from the place: wherefore, upon
flying abroad to look for food, she left this charge with them--that
they should take notice what they heard talked of in her absence, and
tell her of it when she came back again. When she was gone, they heard
the owner of the corn call to his son--'Well,' says he, 'I think this
corn is ripe enough; I would have you go early to-morrow, and desire our
friends and neighbours to come and help us to reap it.' When the Old
Lark came home, the Young Ones fell a quivering and chirping round her,
and told her what had happened, begging her to remove them as fast as
she could. The mother bid them be easy; 'for,' says she, 'if the owner
depends upon friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the corn will not
be reaped to-morrow.' Next day she went out again, upon the same
occasion, and left the same orders with them as before. The owner came,
and stayed, expecting those he had sent to: but the sun grew hot, and
nothing was done, for not a soul came to help him. 'Then,' says he to
his son, 'I perceive these friends of ours are not to be depended upon;
so that you must even go to your uncles and cousins, and tell them, I
desire they would be here betimes to-morrow morning to help us to reap.'
Well, this the Young Ones, in a great fright, reported also to their
mother. 'If that be all,' says she, 'do not be frightened, children, for
kindred and relations do not use to be so very forward to serve one
another; but take particular notice what you hear said the next time,
and be sure you let me know it.' She went abroad the next day, as usual;
and the owner, finding his relations as slack as the rest of his
neighbours, said to his son, 'Hark ye! George, do you get a couple of
good sickles ready against to-morrow morning, and we will even reap the
corn ourselves.' When the Young Ones told their mother this, 'Then,'
says she, 'we must be gone indeed; for, when a man undertakes to do his
business himself, it is not so likely that he will be disappointed.' So
she removed her Young Ones immediately, and the corn was reaped the next
day by the good man and his son.