Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1903 — TEACHING A YOUNG LARK. [ARTICLE]

TEACHING A YOUNG LARK.

Hew Mother Coaches It to twt About anti Fly. . J. M. Barrie, the noted Scottish story how ayoong lark got its first lesson A baby lark had got out of its ne«l sideways, a fall of a foot only, but i> dreadful drop for a baby. “You can get back this way,” it* mother said, and showed it the way, But when the baby tried to leap it fell on its back. Then the‘.mother marked out lines on the ground on which H was to practice hopping, and it got along beautifully so long as the mothei was there every moment to say, “How wonderfully you hop!” "Now teach me to hop up,” said th< little lark, meaning that it wanted tc fly, and the mother tried to do it in vain. She could soar up, up, very bravely, but she could not explain how she did it. “Wait till the sun comes out after the rain,” she said, half remembering “What is sun? What is rain?” th« little bird asked. “If you cannot teacl me to fly, teach me to sing.” “|Vhen the sun comes out after rain,* the mother replied, “then you wit kndw how to sing.” "■ The rain came and glued the littl* bird’s wings together. “I shall never be able to fly or sing,* It wailed. Then of a sudden it began to blinl Its eyes, for a glorious light had spread over the world, catching every leal and twig and blade of grass in tear? and putting a smile in every tear. Th« baby bird’s breast swelled, it did nol know why; it fluttered from th» ground, it did not know why. “Thd sun has come out after th# rain!” it trilled., “Thank you. sun! Thank you! Thank you! Oh, mother did you hear me? I can sing.” Then it floated up, up, calling “Thank you, thank you, thank you!’ to the sun. “Oh, mother, do yov see me? I am flying,*”