Said the little red roosterV "Believe me,-things are tough.
Seems that worms are scarcer, and .1 cannot find enough;
'.hat’s become of all those fat ones is a mystery to me;
There were thousands through that rainy spell, but now
rdiere can they be?"
Then the old black hen who heard him did not grumble or
■complain. • * \ /
She-had gone through lots of dry spells, she had lived ‘ ;
- through floods and rain. 10
So she. flew upon the. j .and she gave her claws ’;
•0 a whet,:; #-x
•As She said, "-I've never seen the tine there were no
'-worms, to .get,;-" ... ' ;
•1 :She picked a and, undug spot,- the earth was hard
^ 5V/and "firm. / -</; • : 01. •' "h ;
:r‘ * The rooster jeered: !'l4cw groxindj ThatLs ..no place for
a worm."' *:Lt t.- \
The old bl^ck-hen,just spread her feet; she dug both
. . fast and free. ' :'w.;
■if •* | "'i 'i^ist'igo to the worms," she said. "The v/orms won’t
‘come1 to-TTie," ' u
The rooster vainly spent his day, through habit, by the •
■ways .;‘i ..v ■ •>/. ; •
'There.-fat -round’worms had passed in.squads back in the
rainy days;-H .
"•hen nightfall found him supper less,, he growled in
accents rough, ; ' ■ ■ ; i- > >. ,> -
"I’m hungry .as a, fool cah be. Conditions sure are tough.1'
He turned then to the old black hen,' and said, "It’s
worse with you; ' '
For you’re not only hungry, but you must be tired too.
I rested while I watched for worms, so %■ feel fairly perk.
But,how are .you? ’.Tithout worms too, and after air'ybiir
world" ■;
The old black hen hopped to her perch and dropped her
eyes to sleep, .
And murmured in a dr owsy tone, "Young man, hear this
and weep:
I’m full of worms and happy, for I’ve eaten like a pig.
The worms are there as always, but -—boy, I had to digj"
•-Selected
„ V
(And we have really had to dig this time for news.) Ed.