The Crested Lark and the Farmer

The crested lark is an unusual bird: she makes her nest on the ground. Our Crested Lark made a habit of making her nest in a wheatfield. Each year, her chicks would be all feathered by the time the wheat ripens, and they would be out of their nest before the harvest. But this year, the wheat ripened early.

“Go tell our friends to come and help us harvest the wheat tomorrow!” said the farmer to his son.

When mother Lark returned to her nest with food, she found her chicks trembling with fear. When they told her what they heard, she responded calmly: “Do not worry, my little ones! There will not be any harvesting tomorrow.”

The next day, the farmer and his son were sitting and waiting for their friends to arrive. Hours were passing but no help was coming. When the sun was high in the sky, and the heat started pressing down, the farmer said to his son: “Our friends are so lazy! Go tell our relatives to come and help us harvest the wheat tomorrow!”

When mother Lark returned to her nest with food, she found her chicks shaking in panic. When they told her what they heard, she said with confidence: “Do not worry, my little ones! There will not be any harvesting tomorrow.”

The next day, the farmer and his son were sitting and waiting for their relatives to arrive. Hours were passing but nobody was coming. When the sun was high in the sky, and they started feeling hugry for lunch, the farmer said to his son: “Our relatives are so unreliable! Go sharpen our sickles, and let us eat and get some rest, for tomorrow you and I will be harvesting by ourselves!”

When the chicks told their mother what they heard, mother Lark responded: “It is time to move.”

The End