1.A lark once made her nest in a field of hay.It wasan early summer，and she was afraid that the mowerswould come to cut down the haybefore her youngones were able to fly to a place of safety.When she went away to look for food，she told her little ones toremember everything they heard the farmer say，and to tell her on her return.
2.When she was gone，the young larks heard the farmer say to his son，“I think this hay is ripe enough.Go tomorrow morning and ask our friends and neighboursto come and help us to cut it down.”
3.Soon afterwards the mother-lark came back.Her little ones chirped round her，and told her what the farmer had said，and asked her to remove themplace of safety before the mowers came.
4.Their mother replied，“Fear not；for if the farmer depends on his friends and neighbours，I am sure the hay will not be cut tomorrow.”
5.Next day she went out again to seek for food，and left the same orders as before.The farmer came and waited，looking for his friends and neighbours；but the sun rose high in the sky，and still nothing was done，for no one came to help him.
6.Then the farmer said to his son，“These friends and neighbours of ours have not come to help us.Go to your uncles and cousins，and ask them to come early to-morrow morning and help us to mow our hay.”
7.The son went away and did so，and the young larkswere in a great fright.They told this also to their mother.
8.“If that is all，”said she，“do not be frightened，dears ；for uncles and cousins are not always very ready to help one another.But be sure to listen again to-morrow，and tell me what you hear.”
9.Next day she flew away as usual for food.The farmer came down to the field with his son，but neither uncles nor cousins were there to meet him.So he said，“Well，George，have two good scythesreadyto-morrow morning，and we will cut down the hay ourselves.”
10.When the mother-lark was told this，she said，“Now it is time for us to be gone；for when a man does his own work himself，he is not likely to fail.”
11.So saying，she and her young ones flew away to another field，and the hay was cut next day by the farmer and his son.They had learned what the lark knew already，that work is best and most quickly done when people help themselves.
THE LARK’S SONG.
A lark flew up from its dewy nest Beside a meadow daisy，And，swelling its throat，sang loud and clear，As if with joy ‘twere crazy.
“Wake up！wake up！”were the words it sang；“The world is growing lazy.
In through yon window I peep and see A maiden soundly sleeping.
Wake up，little girl ！don’t wait for the sun To begin histardy creeping；Lest for unlearned lessons and tasks undoneAt eve you may be weeping.”