One summer a lark built her nest in a field of

wheat.

She laid four speckled eggs in the nest and soon there were four little birds.

The mother bird flew off every day to find food for her babies.

One morning she said, "This wheat is ripe, my children. I think the farmer will soon cut it.

If he comes to the field to-day, do not f to tell me all that he says."

Then she spread her wings and flew away. While she was gone the farmer came to field.

"I shall c to-morrow if I can get my friends to help me. When the lark came home her little ones "O mother! mother! the farmer has been to look at the wheat.

"This wheat is ripe," he said.

"He says he will cut it

get his friends to help him.

Must we fly away?"

to-morrow if he

What shall we

"Do not be afraid, my children," said the l “The farmer's friends will not come to help h

They will have their own work to do. We
safe for a while."

The next morning the farmer came again the field.

66

My friends did not come," he said.

will go and ask my uncles to help me."

"No

.

Again the little larks were frightened. That night they told their mother all they had heard. "Must we go now?" they asked.

"No," said the mother bird. "The farmer's friends did not come to-day. His uncles will not come to-morrow. We need not fly away yet.'

But the next day when the farmer came to the

field he said, "My friends and uncles are not coming to help me, and this work should be To-morrow I will cut the wheat

done at once.

myself."

When the mother bird heard these words she said, "Now the wheat will be cut, my children. The farmer is ready to do it himself.

fly away at once."

We must

Neither I nor you;

But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?

Neither you nor I;

But when the trees bow down their heads,

The wind is passing by.

CHRISTINA G. ROSSETTI.

I will tell you a story about myself.

I am a rabbit and my name is Bunny.

A little boy owns me and he is kind to me, but sometimes he forgets to give me a drink.

Early one morning when I was out looking for water I saw a white cat.

She was sitting under an old willow tree in the yard.

Now I do not like cats. They have such sharp green eyes.

My eyes are soft and pink.