English Original
A lark nested in a field of corn and was rearing her brood under cover of the ripening grain.
One day, before the young were fully fledged, the farmer came to look at the crop. Finding it yellowing fast, he said, "I must send word to my neighbours to come and help me reap this field." One of the young larks overheard him, was frightened, and asked her mother if they shouldn't move at once. "There's no hurry," she replied. "A man who looks to his friends for help will take his time."
A few days later, the farmer came again. "I must put it off no longer," he said. "This very day I'll hire men and set them to work at once." The mother lark heard him and said to her young, "Come, my children, we must be off. He talks no more of his friends now but is going to take things in hand himself."
Self-help is the best help.
中文翻译
一只云雀在麦田里筑巢，在日渐成熟的谷物掩护下养育她的一窝幼鸟。
一天，幼鸟们还未羽翼丰满，农夫来看庄稼。发现麦子熟得很快，他说：“我必须通知邻居们来帮我收割这块田。”一只小云雀听到了，非常害怕，问妈妈他们是否应该立刻搬家。“不用着急，”她回答，“一个指望朋友帮忙的人，做事总会慢慢来。”
几天后，农夫又来了。“我不能再拖延了，”他说，“就在今天，我要雇人立刻开始干活。”母云雀听到后对她的孩子们说：“来吧，孩子们，我们必须离开了。他现在不再提他的朋友们了，而是要亲自动手了。”
自助是最好的帮助。