Said the Little Red Rooster,
“Believe me, things are tough!
Seems the worms are getting scarcer
And I cannot find enough.
What’s become of all those fat ones?
It’s a mystery to me.
There were thousands through that rainy spell,
But now, where can they be?”
But the Old Black Hen who heard him
Didn’t grumble or complain,
She had lived through lots of dry spells
She had lived through floods of rain.
She picked a new and undug spot;
The ground was hard and firm,
“I must go to the worms,” she said.
“The worms won’t come to me.”
The Rooster vainly spent his day
Through habit, by the ways
Where fat round worms had passed in squads
Back in the rainy days.
When nightfall found him supperless,
He growled in accents rough,
“I’m hungry as a fowl can be;
Conditions sure are tough.”
But the Old Black Hen hopped to her perch
and dropped her eyes to sleep
And murmured in a drowsy tone,
“Young man, hear this and weep.
I’m full of worms and happy
For I’ve eaten like a pig.
The worms were there as always
But, boy, I had to dig!”
I Like that! WE have an old red hen who never misses a meal. And a rooster, and others too. Three ducks, wild turkeys, canaries, cardinals, and a visiting peacock. You can learn a lot by observation.
When I was a widow with no income, and left just enough insurance to cover my husband’s medical bills, and a $3500 monthly mortgage, (not of my doing), I learned so much. Every day I prayed and listened INTENTLY. Every day new ideas appeared. Gradually the fears receded. Little adjustments, like sort the bills by date, write the checks till there was only a dollar or less left, ask God to show me every step in the supermarket, what to buy, what to leave. Read every thing in Mary Baker Eddy’s books on whatever came to mind on supply, balance money,debt,accounts,recompense, The Bible also. Complete victory.
Sounds like you found lots of “worms!” or thoughts from God…
Thanks for sharing.
The author for this poem is Adeline J. Haws. Since being written and published in 1929 “The Old Black Hen” has traveled the world over, has been altered to fit many needs and many occasions, and has lost it’s original author and been claimed by others. There are enough people who are aware of these facts that we hear about and receive copies and comments from many places. We are just sorry that it has lost it’s author [our great-grandmother] and wish credit could be given where the credit is due. The original is slightly different first & final verse [I think you’d like the original even more!] Please reply if you’d like a copy of the original. Thanks!