A LARK had made her nest in the early spring on the young green wheat. The brood had almost grown to their full strength and attained the use of their wings and the full plumage of their feathers, when the owner of the field, looking over his ripe crop, said, “The time has come when I must ask all my neighbors to help me with my harvest.” One of the young Larks heard his speech and related it to his mother, inquiring of her to what place they should move for safety. “There is no occasion to move yet, my son,” she replied; “the man who only sends to his friends to help him with his harvest is not really in earnest.” The owner of the field came again a few days later and saw the wheat shedding the grain from excess of ripeness. He said, “I will come myself tomorrow with my laborers, and with as many reapers as I can hire, and will get in the harvest.” The Lark on hearing these words said to her brood, “It is time now to be off, my little ones, for the man is in earnest this time; he no longer trusts his friends, but will reap the field himself.”
ヒバリが早春に、青々とした若い麦畑に巣をつくった。ひなたちはほとんど一人前に育ち、つばさを使えるようになって、羽もすっかり生えそろっていた。そんなとき、畑の持ち主が実った麦を見渡して言った。「そろそろ近所の人たちみんなに、取り入れの手伝いを頼まなければならない時期だな。」ひなの一羽がこの言葉を聞いて母親に伝え、安全のためにどこへ引っ越せばよいかとたずねた。「まだ引っ越す必要はないよ、坊や」と母親は答えた。「取り入れの手伝いを友だちに頼むだけの人は、本気でやるつもりはないのだからね。」数日後、畑の持ち主がまたやって来て、麦が熟れすぎて実がこぼれ落ちているのを見た。彼は言った。「あしたは自分で、作男たちと、雇えるかぎりの刈り手を連れて来て、取り入れをしよう。」この言葉を聞いたヒバリは、ひなたちに言った。「さあ、もう出ていく時だよ、子どもたち。今度はあの人は本気だからね。もう友だちを当てにしないで、自分で畑を刈り取るつもりなんだよ。」
Self-help is the best help.
自分で自分を助けることが、最良の助けである。