THREE boys, Dick, Sam, and Ned, went out to play in the fields, and fine fun they had.
As they sat down to rest for a short time, they heard a lark sing.
“How well he sings!” said Dick. “He must be quite close to us, I think,” said Sam. “I should like to see him,” said Ned.
“There he is, then,” said Sam; “so you can soon have your wish.”
“Where?” said Dick; and up he sprang, just in time to see the lark as he rose once more high in the air. See, there he is, as he sings his sweet song to the boys.
Just then Dick saw that Ned had a small stone in his hand. Dick thought that he meant to throw it at the poor lark. So he said, “Ned, do you mean to throw that stone at him?”
“Yes; why not? What harm would there be?” said Ned; “I want you to see how well I can aim.”
“For shame, Ned!” said Dick. “Throw down the stone. Why should you want to kill the poor bird, that sings so sweet a song to us? If you like, I will soon show you that I can aim quite as well as you can. But I should not like to aim to do ill.” This made both Ned and Sam laugh; and Ned threw down the stone.
The lark went on with his song. Ned said, “I do like to hear the lark sing; how glad I am that I did not try to kill him.”