Scratch

The hen that scratches all the day

     Is jest a good example;

She works in her peculiar way,

     An’ gets a livin’ ample.

Good times, or poor, it’s all the same,

     She spends no time cross-patchin’;

She starts and keeps right in the game,

     An’ tends right to her scratchin’.

We kin take courage from the hen,

     An’ make our profits double;

We must dig all the harder when

     We’re weighted down with troubles.

We’ve got to scratch an’ scratch away, –

     The hen’s a good example;

‘Twill drown the sorrers of the day,

     An’ bring a livin’ ample.

May 3, ‘09