A Lark nested in a field of corn, and was rearing her brood under cover of the ripening grain. One day, before the young were fully fledged, the Farmer came to look at the crop, and, finding it yellowing fast, he said, “I must send round word to my neighbours to come and help me reap this field.” One of the young Larks overheard him, and was very much frightened, and asked her mother whether they hadn't better move house at once. “There's no hurry,” replied she; “a man who looks to his friends for help will take his time about a thing.” In a few days the Farmer came by again, and saw that the grain was overripe and falling out of the ears upon the ground. “I must put it off no longer,” he said; “this very day I'll hire the men and set them to work at once.” The Lark heard him and said to her young, “Come, my children, we must be off: he talks no more of his friends now, but is going to take things in hand himself.”
Self-help is the best help.
百灵鸟在一片玉米地里面筑巢栖息，她把雏鸟藏在成熟的谷物下面，小鸟的翅膀还没有长好。有一天农民过来检查庄稼，看到穗子都黄了，便说：“我得尽快叫邻居过来帮忙收庄稼了。”其中一只小鸟听到了他的话恐惧不已，便问妈妈他们是否应该立刻搬家。“不用着急，”百灵鸟说，“一个总是找人来帮忙的人，根本不会把自己的时间当回事。”过了几天，那农夫又来了，看到庄稼已经熟透了，有的粮食都从穗子中脱落掉到了地上。他说：“我真是不能再拖了，今天我就雇人让他们立刻开始工作。”百灵鸟听到他的话，对孩子们说：“来吧，孩子们，我们必须得走了，他已经不再说朋友了，而是自己来处理事情了。”
训诫：自助是最好的帮助。