The Wise lark and the Lazy man.

Otago Witness, Issue 2714, 21 March 1906, Page 80

The Wise lark and the Lazy man.

"Once upon a time a lazy man owned a large field of wheat, and in that field a Sark built her nest. Soon there were five p'-little larks, but before they were able to .•fly th© wheat began to ripen, and soon must be harvested. So th© little larks fceeame fearful lest they be destroyed. One day they spoke to their mother about it, •telling her that th© man had been out fin. th© field, and that they heard him say Ihe must get his cousins to cut th© grain jto-morrpw. "Nevei fear, children," said the mother, : "it is not yet tim© to move; but watch closely what the man eaye each day, and fcell me just what you hear." ■ Th© next' evening when th© old bird came "horn© th© little- birds all cried out: "Oh, mother, we must move ! For th© scan was her© to-day, and said that h& would get his neighbours to start cutting ' to-morrow morning at daylight." I But th© mother bird told them not to nvorry, for they were in no danger. But on the following evening . the little (birds' were more fearful than ever. ' eaid-" they, "we surely must ffaiov©! Th© .man was here again to-day, ?«nd w© heard him say that he wae coining v *o-niorr6w "66 cut the, grain himself." And fajjain th© mother assured them that they aver© in no danger. / " I » 'Einally, the grain was very ripe, and ' ebm© of it was shelling on the ground. BSo, on th© succeeding evening, when th© kmother bird returned to th© nest, th© Uittle ones clamoured loudly that they b© moved. • J "What did the man say to-day?" asked the mother, | "He said' that his wheat was all shelling ' tout, " and that his wife must come and : cut it in the morning," responded the i baby birds. j "Merciful Heavens, children ! — hurry and |>ack your trunks," replied the mother: for ~w© are now in danger, and must not lose a minute's time." So ■ they moved that night, and barely escaped destruction. — Puck.