The Portland daily press., 1891-11-09
OUR BOYS.
How a skyIark Preached a serr,o

HOW SkyIark Preached a Sermon.
Stories, as well as poems, about the sky
lark abound; but the following shows the
constant love of Englishmen for this truly
English bird. There is no such thing as a
songbird natural to Australia: there are
birds that chatter 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 take care of it. He
opened "store" "a sort OF rough shop
where almost everything could be had, at
place called "The Ovens" noted gold field.
above two hundred miles from Melbourne.
AS he continued to prosper, this young man,
like dutiful SOD, wrote home for his father
and mother, asking them to come out to him,
and, If they possibly could, to bring with
them lark.
The old folks agreed, and in due time,
with lark In charge, they took ship and
left the shores OF England. The old man,
however, took the change so much to heart
that he died, but the old woman and the lark
landed in sound health at Melbourne. and
were speedily forward to Mr.. Wilsted's store
The Ovens" 1t was on Tuesday when
they arrived and the next morning the lark
was hung outside the hut, and at once began
piping up. The effect was wonderful.
Sturdy diggers- big men with hairy faces
and great brown heads-paused In the midst
of their work and listened reverently.
Drunken diggers left unfinished the bias
phemous sentence and looked bewildered and
ashamed. Far and near the news spread
like lightning-"Have you heard the lark ?"
SIS 1t true, mate, that there Is a real En-
glish skylark mp at Jack Wilsted's?"
So 1t went on for. three days, and then
came Sunday morning. Such sight had
not been seen since the first spadeful of gold
en- earth had been turned! From every
quarter-easf, west, north, south-from far
of hill, from creeks twenty miles away, came
a steady stream OF rough, brawny English.
men, all brushed and washed, as decent as
possible. The movement was not arranged
beforehand, and was plain from the half
ashamed expression of every mans face as
met his acquaintance in the crowd.
There they were, however, and their En-
rand waste hear the lark! Nor were they
disappointed. There he perched In his wood
and iron pulpit, was the little minister, and,
as If he knew the importance of the task be-
fore him, he plumed his crest, and lifting up
bis voice sang them sermon, which
touched his audience more closely than. per-
haps, even the bishop himself could have
have done.
1t was a 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 better fancy
themselves at home and In the midst of En-
glish cornields once more: but whether sit
ting. standing or lying. all were equally
quiet and attentive; and when, after an
hours steady preaching, the lark ceased, his
audience soberly started off, a little low
spirited, perhaps. but, on the whole, happier,
than when they came.
Yes. and doubtless In many breast the
larB's MARBLE had stirred the memories of
the lessons they learned In the village school
or In the village church, at home, and
had Weakened unuttered longings for those
means of grace" for which they had cared
SO little when they were within their reach.
80 the skylark preached his sermon, and
many OF his congregation wished that they
could have taken him away with them to
preach to them in their distant diggings day
by day.
Il say, Joe," one digger was heard TO say
to another. "do, you think that Wilsted
would sell him--the bird, you know? I'll
give as much gold dust for him as he weighs,
and think him cheap"
sell him! Not bel" was the indignant
answer: "how would you like fellow to
come to our village at home and make bid
for our parson"