180 A GREAT EYE.

been and done damage here—but I’ll cure you both of it now
—a pair of lazy young scamps!”

The farmer meant to be as good as his word Boone as he
and his man were taking the two boys up the village street they
met their father; who vowed to give them each the soundest
thrashing they had ever dreamt off, if Farmer Stubbs would
hand them over to him.

The farmer did so with a grin; and the father kept his
promise. The boys howled loud enough when their own skins
smarted—so let us hope that it taught them to be more careful
about giving pain now that they had found out what a nasty
thing it was.

But all this did not cure the wounded lark.

Poor little suffering birdie! Its wing trailed limp and
full of pain—yet it managed somehow to creep back to its
mate, to the nest under the poppy-flowers, where the two
grieved together. No more sweet song—the sun listened in
vain for it—the useless wing could only drag feebly along the
ground—the bird could only gaze up at the great eye and long
LOvily Teareratondts

Towards evening a sound of people talking was heard
coming up the cornfield path. It was not at all like the shouts
of the rude boys, yet the lark shivered from fear—for he had
learned to dread the human voice; thinking the noise would be
followed by the sharp stinging pain and weakness the stone
had brought last time he heard it. Yet he need not have been
afraid; for it was only a gentle little girl going for a walk with
her nurse—chattering as she gathered a: bunch of flowers to take
home to her mother, who was ill and obliged to stay at home.

“Miss Nelly! Miss Nelly! how many times must I
tell you not to tread on the corn!” her nurse was saying ;
“and what ave you doing with all them dock-seeds ?—what-