Who's Gonna Tend the Farm

Doctors told the old farmer his soul was soon to be his Makers! "Spare me, Lord", he pled, "I must farm these hundred-forty acres! My wife ain't able to hoe or mow or handle the old John Deere! The place will go to hell (er, 'scuse me, Lord), that is what I fear!" "The threshin' crew is comin' next week to reap the wheat and oats. Grain prices will plunge, the radio man says in his daily quotes. The barn needs paintin' and the roof needs repairin' too. All this and the mortgage on the old place is way overdue!" "In the garden there's taters, termaters and carrots to weed. It's hay makin' time and I fear the alfalfa will go to seed. Them thievin' birds and squirrels will rob me of my apple crop. I ain't a drinkin' man, Lord, but right now I could use a drop!" "The punkins is ripe for pickin' and the corn's ready for shuckin'. The cattle stalls is heaped full and they really need a muckin'. My chicken coops need fixin' and a real good cleanin' out. Lord, I'm in a heap of trouble, of that there ain't no doubt!" "There's twenty guernseys to milk, who's gonna take care of that? There's them hogs to fatten up to sell and I want 'em good and fat. The sheep needs shearin' and a dozen goats need milkin' too. Lord, have mercy! I just ain't ready yet to rendezvous with You!" Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired © All Rights Reserved