“One day when she came home the youngsters were in a great fright, for they said the farmer and his son had been walking close by, and declared the grain was ready to be cut, so they would send around for the neighbors, and start in on the next day. After she had managed to quiet her excited little brood the mother bird told them there was no need of worry, for the grain would not be cut.
“The next day when she came home they were as badly scared as before. The farmer and his son had been around again, and this time the old man declared that since their neighbors had all been too busy to respond, he would have to call in his relatives, and get the wheat cut on the following day.”
Amos laughed.
“Chances were it wasn’t cut, Jack?” he remarked, sensibly.
“Well, she told them there was no danger, Amos; but when on the third day the mother bird came home, and the nestlings told her what had happened, it was different. The farmer had said that since neighbors and relatives had failed them, on the following day he and his son would have to take off their coats and reap the grain themselves. ‘It’s time we were going then, children,’ said the wise mother bird, ‘for when a man says he will do a thing himself, and stops depending on others, that settles it.’ And there’s the story, though I’m afraid it’s a chestnut.”
“Honestly, Jack, I never heard it before, though it’s a cracking good one, and illustrates the point you were making. But ever since we’ve been going together we’ve tried to do things ourselves, and depend on others just as little as possible. We’ll do it again in this case.”
“I’ll take the first chance I can find to have a little talk with the commander,” ventured Jack.
“About our getting ashore, you mean?”
“Yes,” replied Jack, “for it isn’t the easiest thing going, you can understand, making a landing, when a thousand enemy eyes may be on the watch. First thing you know they may open on you with a quick-firer, and your name will be Dennis.”
“Still, they must have some way of communicating with the forces ashore, and sending ammunition as well as provisions to them,” urged Amos.