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 Larks 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 laborers, 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.




The Dog, the Cock, and the Fox


A DOG and a Cock being great friends, agreed to travel together. At
nightfall they took shelter in a thick wood. The Cock flying up,
perched himself on the branches of a tree, while the Dog found a bed
beneath in the hollow trunk. When the morning dawned, the Cock, as
usual, crowed very loudly several times. A Fox heard the sound, and
wishing to make a breakfast on him, came and stood under the branches,
saying how earnestly he desired to make the acquaintance of the owner
of so magnificent a voice. The Cock, suspecting his civilities, said:
“Sir, I wish you would do me the favour of going around to the hollow
trunk below me, and waking my porter, so that he may open the door and
let you in.” When the Fox approached the tree, the Dog sprang out and
caught him, and tore him to pieces.