What a cry the men heard when he found little Helen fast asleep by the lark's nest! How his heart almost stood still when he thought of the danger that she had been in! He caught her up in his arms and covered her face with kisses. "Oh, my darling!" he said, "it was the lark that saved you!" Yes, it was the lark, and his own kind heart, that had saved her. Helen was carried home in her father's strong arms. She could not understand what made the tears run down his cheeks. It was some time before the men could go on with their work. They left the grain standing around the lark's nest, to thank her, as they said, for saving little Helen. As they stood looking at the little birds in the nest, one of the men, with big tears in his eyes, said, "God bless the birds! Come away, boys, and let the little mother feed her babies." [1] Permission of American Book Company. ALL ABOUT THE MEADOW LARK SUGGESTIONS FOR FIELD LESSONS Usually resident--sometimes goes south in late October, returning in April. Song--a very beautiful sweet, clear whistle--heard in the early spring and in the autumn--usually quite silent during brooding season. Female much paler in colour than male. General colour brown streaked with brown and black and cream--breast and throat yellow--conspicuous black crescent on breast--brown streak on head appearing to run through the eyes--tail feathers edged with white, which is seen most plainly when bird is in flight. Food--seeds, insects, larval insects, also swallows gravel to aid in digestion. Nest made of grasses--built on the ground amid tall grass or grain--usually quite skilfully hidden and arched or roofed over in a very ingenious way. Eggs--four in number--about an inch and an eighth in length, a pure white, speckled with brown. Greatest danger from snakes and field-mice. Meadow lark is not really a lark, but belongs to the blackbird family. THE OWL [Illustration: The Owl] A GOOD-NIGHT "Haw-haw! Hoo! hoo!" Phyllis listened again. "Haw-haw! Hoo! hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" "Oh, I see you now!" laughed Phyllis. The owl moved silently as a shadow and perched very near to the little girl. His great round eyes and his yellow bill gleamed in the starlight. "I heard you calling!" said Phyllis. "But I could not at first tell just where you were. I looked in a dozen trees before I came to you." "To-who? To-who-whoo-oo-oo?" questioned the owl. Phyllis laughed again. The owl blinked wisely. "I am going home to-morrow," Phyllis said. "I shall start to school next week. Some day, perhaps, I shall be as wise as you, Mr. Owl." The owl only blinked his great eyes. [Illustration: "The owl only blinked his great eyes"] "But I'm sure I can never look so wise," she added, politely. "Hoo-hoo-hoo-oo!" hooted the owl, blinking sleepily. "If you will not talk with me I shall say good-night to you at once!" said Phyllis. "To-who? To-who-ooo-oo-oo?"