CONTENTMENT. 



NCE on a time an old red hen 

 Went strutting around with pompous clucks, 

 For she had little babies ten, 

 A part of which were tiny ducks ; 

 " 'Ti's very rare that hens," said she, 

 " Have baby ducks, as well as chicks ; 

 But I possess, as you can see, 



Of chickens four and ducklings six !" 



A season later, this old hen 



Appeared, still cackling of her luck, 

 For though she boasted babies ten, 



Not one among them was a duck ! 

 " 'Tis well," she murmured, brooding o'er 



The little chicks of fleecy down, 

 " My babies now will stay ashore, 



And, consequently, cannot drown !" 



The following spring the old red hen 

 Clucked just as proudly as of yore ; 

 But lo ! her babies were ducklings ten, 



Instead of chickens, as before ! 

 " 'Tis better," said the old red hen, 



As she surveyed her waddling brood, 

 " A little water, now and then, 



Will surely do my darlings good !" 



But, oh ! alas, how very sad ! 



When gentle spring rolled round again, 

 The eggs eventuated bad, 



And childless was the old red hen ! 

 Yet, patiently she bore her woe, 



And still she wore a cheerful air, 

 And said : " 'Tis best these things are so, 



For babies are a dreadful care ! " 



I half suspect that many men, 



And many, many women too, 

 Could learn a lesson from the hen, 



With foliage of vermilion hue. 

 She ne'er presumed to take offence 



At any fate that might befall, 

 But meekly bowed to Providence. 



She was contented that was all ! 



Eugene Field. 



163 



