Lesson 14 The Sky-lark (2)

Ⅱ

Sky-larks are plentiful everywhere in Europe, and in winter they fly about in large flocks[1]. Their summer food is mostly earth-worms, but in winter they are driven to vegetable diet. We call the wild plants weeds, and the garden ones flowers; but each alike bears its little seeds after its own kind, and each of these little seeds has its own work to do. We gather the pods[2] of our sweet-peas and our lupines, and store them carefully away till we plant them the following summer. And the wild-flower seeds—does nobody gather them? Yes; God lays them in his storehouse, and not one is wasted. Some fall to the ground, ready to take root and grow up in the spring-time, but the greater part are for the spreading of the little birds’ table. The larks especially feed on these seeds in the winter,and all the cold weather through they come and eat, and are satisfied.

Everybody loves the sky-lark’s song; and sometimes, when people have gone away to other lands, they have taken a sky-lark with them, to remind them of their own old home. There was once a poor old widow[3] who, finding it hard work to get her living at home, thought that she would like to go to the gold-diggings in Australia. So she crossed the sea to that far-off country. The only treasures she possessed she took with her. One of these was a pet sky-lark, which had been used to living in a small wicker[4]cage, outside her cottage window.

When she got to Australia, she hired a hut, and got her living by washing the gold-diggers’ clothes and cooking their dinners. Day after day the lark sang his happy song beside her door. She listened, and it cheered her at her work. Some of the golddiggers listened too: it was years since they had heard that familiar song, and many offered to buy the lark, if the widow would only sell it. She shook her head. “No, no,I’ll never do that; but you may come on Sundays and hear him sing. Mayhap it’ll do you good.” Alas! they had no church there; nothing to make Sundays different from other days. But, Sunday after Sunday, they did come; and the lark’s song told them of the green valleys of England; it brought back memories of their childhood—of the prayers learned at their mothers’ knees—of the thoughts they once had about God and about heaven; alas! how sadly forgotten now! The rough men’s hearts were softened; I think—nay, I am quite sure—they were better men for it. The sky-lark preached a little sermon（布道，训诫）to them. He did not know it, he did not mean it, but God meant it, and God sent it; and I think, as the poor woman said, “it did them good.”

The lark is up—I hear him sing—

See how he mounts upon the wing!

And with a voice so loud and strong,

Pours forth to Heaven his thrilling song.

I listened to his early hymns[5]

While yet the dawning light was dim[6] ;

And bent my head for very shame,

That from my heart no music came.

Oh, shame! to let a little bird

Thus get the start and first be heard!

Come, then, and let us tune our throats,

And join its song with grateful notes.

(571 words)

Exercise

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [Note the fact] In summer the sky-lark eats mostly________ .

A. plant weeds B. earth-worms C. vegetable diet

2. [Give the reason] When people go away to other lands, they take a sky-lark with them because________ .

A. the sky-lark can sing a song

B. the sky-lark can be easily satisfied

C. the sky-lark can help them remember their old home

3. [Draw a conclusion] The story in the passage means the sky-lark is________ .

A. a spiritual strength B. a beautiful bird C. a musical poem

Ⅱ. Read for words

1. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined words.

(1) We call the wild plants weeds, and the garden ones flowers; but each alike bears its little seeds after its own kind… (Para. 1)

A. 长出，结出 B. 承担，负担 C. 忍受，忍耐

(2) The sky-lark preached a little sermon to them. (Para. 3)

A. learnt something B. gave moral advice C. sang a song

2. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined words.

(1) The larks especially feed on these seeds in the winter… (Para. 1)

A. eat B. play with C. support

(2) …when people have gone away to other lands, they have taken a sky-lark with them, to remind them of their own old home. (Para. 2)

A. forget something B. make remember C. enjoy the time

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