40 |. FAVOURITE FABLES.

FABLE XOSxI.
THE LARK AND HER YOUNG ONES.

A Lark, who had young ones in a field of corn almost
ripe, was under some fear lest the reapers should come to
reap it before her young brood was fledged and able to
remove from that place. She, therefore, upon flying abroad
to look for food, left this charge with them—to 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 quiver-
ing 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,’’ said she, ‘if the owner
depends on his friends and neighbours, I am pretty sure the
corn will not be reaped to-morrow.”’

Next day, she went out again, leaving the same orders as
before. The owner came, and staid, expecting his friends;
but the sun grew hot, and nothing was done, for not a soul
came to help them. Then says he to his son, ‘I perceive