[伊索寓言] 云雀妈妈

The Lark and Her Young Ones

There was once a nest of young larks in the field of corn that had just become ripe(成熟), and the mother was on the lookout every day for the reapers(收割者)...One day, while she was absent(不在), the master came to inspect the condition of the crops(庄稼).

"It's high time to call together my neighbors and reap(收割) my corn," he said.

...

Next day, however, the owner came again, and finding the sun even hotter, the corn riper, and nothing done..."Go call your uncles and cousins, and see whether they can begin tomorrow."

...Finding that the corn was falling to the ground because it was too ripe, and seeing that nobody was at work, he called to his son.

"...Go and hire some reapers tonight, and we'll get to work ourselves tomorrow."

..."...it's time to be off(离开), for when a man makes up his mind to do his work himself instead of leaving it to others to do, you can be sure that he means to do what he says."

Self-help is the best help.