His Hens

The prices they are droppin’

     They drop each day;

The cost o’ livin’s stoppin’

     That’s what folks say.

They say it’s all the tariff,

     That’s put good times astray;

I’m sure I wouldn’t care if

     My hens would lay!

My wife hez got the fever,

     Not a bad case;

Can’t find the time to leave her

     To work the place.

One’s life is pretty sad if

     One goes away;

But wouldn’t be so bad if

     My hens would lay.

This world is dark and dreary

     And full of woe;

I don’t see nothing cheery

     Where’re I go.

My life will be a blight if

     Things go this way;

But it would be all right if

     My hens would lay!

Nov. 25, 1910