Thoughts For the Discouraged Farmer 



From Farm Rhymes — By James Whitcomb Riley, Copyright 1901. 

 Used by Special Permission of the Publishers, 

 The Bobbs-Merrill Company 



The summer winds is sniffin' round the bloomin' locus' trees ; 



And the clover in the pastur' is a big day fer the bees, 



And they been a-swiggin' honey, aboveboard and on the sly, 



Tel they stutter in theyr buzzin* and stagger as they fly. 



The flicker on the fence-rail 'pears to jest spit on his wings 



And roll up his feathers by the sassy way he sings ; 



And the hoss-fly is a-whettin'-up his forelegs fer biz, 



And the off-mare is a-switchin' all of her tail they is. 



You can hear the blackbirds jawin' as they foUer up the plow — 

 Oh, theyr bound to git theyr breakfast, and, theyr not a carin' how ; 

 So they quarrel in the furries, and they quarrel on the wing — 

 But theyr peaceabler in pot-pies than any other thing : 

 And it's when I git my shotgun drawed up in stiddy rest, 

 She's as full of tribbelation as a yeller-jacket's nest ; 

 And a few shots before dinner, when the sun's a-shinin' right. 

 Seems to kindo-sorto sharpen up a feller's appetite ! 



\y They's been a heap o' rain, but the sun's out today, 

 And the clouds of the wet spell is all cleared away. 

 And the woods is all the greener, and the grass is greener still ; 

 It may rain again tomorry, but I don't think it will. 

 Some says the crops is ruined, and the corn's drownded out, 

 And propha-sy the wheat will be a failure, without doubt ; 

 But the kind Providence that has never failed us yet 

 Will be on hands onc't more at the 'leventh hour, T bet ! 



Does the medder-lark complane as he swims high and dry 



Through the waves of the wind and the blue of sky ? 



Does the quail set up and whissel in a disappinted way, 



Er hang his head in silunce, and sorrow all the day ? 



Is the chipmunk's health a-failin'? Does he walk, er does he run? 



Don't the buzzards ooze around up thare jest like they've alius done? 



Is they anything the matter with the rooster's lungs er voice ? 



Ort a mortul be complainin' when dumb animals rejoice? 



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