Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-02

Stories as well as poems about the skylark
abound; but the following story shows the con-
slant love of EngliShmen for this truly English
bird. There is no such thing as a songbrd
natural to Australia; there are birds that chat
ter and birds that Shrek, but no birds that sing.
Well, there was young man who went out from
England as gold-digger, and was fortunate
enough TO make some money, and prudent
enough TO take care of it. He opened "Store''
"a sort of rough shop where almost anything
could he had--at place called "rhe Ovens" a
noted gold field, about 200 miles from Mel
bourne. As he continued to prosper, this young
man, like a dntilul son, wrote home for his
father and mother asking them TO coma.e with
him, and, if they possibly could, to, and in due
them a lark. The old folk,srney took ship and
time, with lark iRrgiand.
left the shoraan, however, took the change so
The.o heart that he died; but the old woman
and the lark landed in sound health at Mel
bourne, and were speedily forwarded to Mr.
Wilsteds store at "The Ovens" 1t was on
Tuesday when they arrived, and the next morn
ing the lark was hung outside the hut, and at
once began piping up. The effect was wonder
full. Sturdy diggers--big men with hairy faces
and great brown hands-pauSed in the midst of
their work and listened reverenty Drunken
diggers left unfinished the blasphemous sen.
tence, and looked bewildered and ashamed Far
and near the news spread like lightning: "Have
you heard the lark ?" as it true, mate, that
there is real English skylark up at Jack Will
sted's ?"
So it went for three days, and then came Sun
day morning. Such a sight had not been seen
since the first spadeiul of the golden earth had
been turnedl From every quarter-east, west,
north and south-from far off hill and from
creeks twenty miles away, came steady stream
OF rough, brawny Englishmen, all brushed and
washed as decently as possible The movement
was not arranged beforehand, as was plain from
the halfashamed expression of every mans face
as he met his acquaintance in the crowd. There
they were, however, and their errand was to
hear the lark Nor were they disappointed
There, perched in his wood and iron pulpit, was
the little minister, and, as if he knew the i'm
portance of the task before him, he pumed his
crest, and, lifting up his voice, sang them SER
mon which touched his audience more closely
than perhaps even the bishop himself could
have DONE
1t was wonderful sight to see those three or
four hundred men, some lying on the ground,
some sitting with their arms on their knees and
their heads on their hands, some leaning against
the trees with their eyes closed, so that they
might the better fancy themselves at home, and
in the midst of English corntields once more
but whether sitting, standing, or lying, all were
equally quiet and attentive; and when, after an
hours steady preaching, the lark ceased, his
audience suddenly started Off little low spir-
tied, perhaps, but on the whole happier than
when they came. Yes, and doubtless in many
a breast the lark's MARBLE had stirred the mem
cries of the lessons learned in the village
school, or in the village church at home and
had Weakened unuttered longngs for those
means of grace for which they had cared so
little when they were within their reach.
So the skylark preached his sermon, and
many of the congregation wished that they
could have taken him away with them, 10
preach to them in their distant diggings day by
day.
q say, Joe," one digger was heard to say to
another, edo you think Wilsted would sell him
the bird, you know2 I'll give as much gold
dust for him as he weighs, and think him
cheap"
"SeIl him? not hel" was the indignant an
swer; chow would YOU like fellow to come to
our village at home, and make bid for our
parson?"