Year: 1872




THAT is easier said than done." an
swered the poor Lark. Il have often got
them entangled in the grass, and | scrape
them against the hard cl'ds; but it is ol
no use, you cannot think how fast they
stick on"


"Well, I am sorry for you." observed
the Fairy; ''but at the same time, / can
not but see that. in spite of what you say
you must be quarrelsome bird, or you
would not have such long spurs"


''That is just what am always afraid
people should say" sighed the Lark.


"For." proceeded the Fairy. nothing
is given us to be of no use You would
not have wings, unless you were to fly.
nor voice. unless you were to sing and
so you would not have those dreadful spurs
unless you were going to fight. If your
spurs are not to fight with" continued the
unkind Fairy, "I should like to know what
they are for"


81 am sure I don't know" said the
Lark. lifting up his foot and looking at it.
Then you are not inclined to help me al
all, Fairy? l thought you might be will
ing to mention among my friends that l
am not quarrelsome bird, and that |
should always take care not to hurt my
wife and nestlings with my spurs"


Appearances are very much against
you" answered the Fairy; and it quite
plain to me that those spurs are meant to
scratch with. No, cannot help you
Good morning"


So the Fairy withdrew to her oak bough
and the poor Lark sat mopiug in the grass,
while the Fairy watched him. ''After
ALL" she thought. II am sorry he is such
a quarrelsome fellow; for that he is such,
is fully proved by those long spurs"


While she was so thinking, the Grass
hopper came chirping up to the Lark and
tried to comfort him.


Il have heard all that the Fairy said
to you," he observed, "and | really dc
not see that it need make you unhappy.
I have known you sometime and have
never seen you fight or look out of tenn
per; therefore | will spread report that
you are very good tempered bird. and
that you are looking out for wife,"


The Lark upon this thanked the Grass
hopper warmly.


''At the same time" remarked the
Grasshopper. Il should be glad if you
could tell me what is the use of those
claws. because the question might be ask
ed me. and I should not know what to an
swer."


'Grasshopper. !" replied the Lark. II
cannot imagine what they are for,-that
is the real truth"


WELL" said the kind Grasshopper.
perhaps time will shows


So he went away, and the Lark. delight
ed with his promise to speak well of him.
flew up into the air. and the higher he
went, the sweeter and the louder he sang
He was so happy. and he poured forth such





delightful notes. SO clear and thrilling,
that the little ants who were carrying
grains to their burrow. stopped and put
down their burdens to listen: and the
doves ceased cooling. and the little field
mice came and sat in the openings of their
holes; and the Fairy, who had just begun
to doze. woke up delighted and pretty
brown Lark, who had been sitting under
some great foxglove leaves, peeped out
and exclaimed:


Il never heard such beautiful song
in my life-neyer.


ut was sung by my friend. the Sky
lark, " said the Grasshopper, who just then
happened to be on leaf near her. .He
is very good tempered bird, and he
wants wife"


"Hush !'' said the pretty brown Lark
Il want to hear the end of that wonderful
song"


For just then the Skylark, far up in the
heaven, burst forth again, and sang bet.
ter than ever-so we'll, indeed. that every
creature in the field sat still to listen and
the little brown Lark, under the foxglove
leaves, held her breath. for she was afraid
| of losing single note.


"Well done, my friend !'' exclaimed the
Grasshopper. when. at length, he came
down painting. and with tired wings; anc
then he told him how much his friend, the
brown Lark who lived by the foxglove
had been pleased with his song, and be
took the poor Skylark to see her.


He walked as carefully as heoould tina
! she might not sec his feet; and be though