She'll soon have to beg, or steal, or borrow.
For she never can tell the night before,
Where she shall find one red worm more.

The fact, as I say, was, she'd had too many;
She couldn't sleep, and she called it virtue,
Motherly foresight, affection, any
Name you may call it that will not hurt you,
So it was late ere she tucked her head in,
And she slept so late it was almost a sin.

But the little fellow who knew of five
Nor troubled his head about any more,
Woke very early, felt quite alive,
And wanted a sixth to add to his store:
He pushed his mother, the greedy elf,
Then thought he had better try for himself.

When his mother awoke and had rubbed her eyes,
Feeling less like a bird, and more like a mole,
She saw him -- fancy with what surprise --
Dragging a huge worm out of a hole!
'Twas of this same hero the proverb took form:
'Tis the early bird that catches the worm.


"There, mother!" said Diamond, as he finished; "ain't it funny?"

"I wish you were like that little bird, Diamond, and could catch
worms for yourself," said his mother, as she rose to go and look