A LARK1 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 Larks2 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 laborers3, 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.