Foreword:
This fable represents human psychology, and numbered 325 in the Perry Index (as 325. The Lark and the Farmer). One of the lesser known of Aesop's fables, this fable illustrates the importance of work and doing things oneself, instead of depending on others. Besides, a good servant is spoiled by a careless master.
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A lark, and her young ones, nested in a field of wheat.
The field of wheat offered a comfortable and safe space to nest, for the lark to raise her babies.
But as the wheat started to ripe, the lark realized, the farmers will soon start to harvest their crop. This will destroy their nest, and so, before that happens, the lark would require to find a new home.
Every morning, when leaving her babies in search of food and a new place to nest, she instructed them, "Keep your ears open and listen carefully. If you hear anything from the farmers, let me know without fail."
And when she returned every evening, the young ones would report back to her, that they heard or saw nothing. Thus, the lark knew that she had time, but not too long.
Soon afterwards, one afternoon, the farmer and his son came to inspect the wheat.
The farmer said to his son, "The wheat has ripened, and it is time to cut the crop. Ask the neighbours to come and help us tomorrow."
Hearing this worried the young ones, as they waited impatiently for their mother to return.
When the lark returned in the evening, they shrieked in unision, "Mother! Mother! The farmers were here. They would harvest the crop tomorrow!"
The lark listened to everything patiently and said, "Do not worry. If the farmer is depending on his neighbour's help, we still have time."
As anticipated, the next day the farmers did not start cutting the crop, but came back to inspect. The farmer's son said, "The neighbours did not come to our help. What shall we do now?"
The farmer replied, "Leave them be. But we will need to cut the crop tomorrow. Ask our relatives to come and help us tomorrow."
Hearing this worried the young ones, as they waited impatiently for their mother to return.
When the lark returned in the evening, they shrieked in unision, "Mother! Mother! They will surely harvest the crop tomorrow!"
The lark listened to everything patiently and said, "Do not worry. If the farmer is depending on his relative's help, we still have time. Our home is safe, for now!"
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As anticipated, the next day the farmers did not start cutting the crop, but came back to inspect. And, the farmer's son complained, "Our relatives did not come to our help. What shall we do now?"
The farmer replied, "Leave them be. But we will need to cut the crop tomorrow, or the wheat will be ruined. Get ready, for tomorrow, we shall cut the crop ourselves."
The young ones waited impatiently for their mother to return. They were not as worried, and when the lark returned, reported what they had seen and heard.
"Our home is no longer safe anymore. If the farmers are determined to harvest themselves, they will surely begin tomorrow morning", the lark explained to her babies, "And thankfully, during this time, I have also found a safe new place to nest. We shall move tonight!"
The lark and her young ones moved their home that very night, and as anticipated, the farmers harvested their crop the very next morning.
Moral:
Self-help is the best help.
Or,
He that would be sure to have his business well done, must either do it himself, or see the doing of it.
Summary:
A lark and her babies lived in a nest, that was inside a wheat field. The wheat crops had begun to ripen, and therefore the lark knew she had to move to another nest. One day, her young ones reported to her that they had overheard the farmer seeking the assistance of his neighbours to cut the crop. To this, the lark did not heed any urgency. Another day, her young ones reported to her that they had overheard the farmer seeking the assistance of his relatives to cut the crop. To this, also, the lark did not heed any urgency. But another day, when the lark heard that her young ones had overheard the farmer had decided to cut the crops himself, she knew he was determined - and quickly moved to a new nest.