Poems (Prescott)/The Farmer's Lesson

by Mary Newmarch Prescott

THE FARMER'S LESSON

If I had told her in the spring
 The old, old story, briefly,
When sparrow and robin began to sing,
 And the plowing was over, chiefly!

But haste makes waste, and the story sweet
 I reasoned, will keep through the sowing,
Till I drop the corn, and plant the wheat,
 And give them a chance for growing.

Had I even told the tale in June,
 When the wind through the grass was blowing,
Instead of thinking it rather too soon,
 And waiting till after the mowing!

Or had I hinted, out under the stars,
 That I knew a story worth hearing,—
Lingering to put up the pasture bars,—
 Nor waited to do the shearing!

Now the barn is full, and so is the bin,
 But I've grown wise without glory,
Since love is the crop not gathered in—
 For my neighbor told her the story!