THE LARK AND HER LITTLE ONES.

A lark built her nest in a field of wheat. After a while there were five little larks in the nest. One day the farmer and his son came into the field. The farmer looked at the wheat and said, “This wheat is ripe. It must be cut. We will get our friends to come and help us.” “Oh, Mother!” said the little ones. “The farmer says the wheat must be cut. What shall we do? We are not strong enough to fly.” “We need not fly away to-day,” said the mother lark. “But are you not afraid?” asked the little ones. “No,” said the mother lark. “The farmer’s friends will not cut his wheat.”

In a day or two the farmer and his son came again to the field. “Where are your friends?” said the farmer. “This wheat is ripe. It must be cut.” But the farmer’s friends did not come to help him. At last the farmer said to his son, “This wheat must be cut. In the morning I will cut it myself. You may help me, my son.” “Oh, Mother!” said the little ones, “Must we fly away to-day?” “Yes,” said the mother lark. “It is time for us to fly away. In the morning the wheat will be cut.”