Farm Problems.

Farmer John looked worried, “Mary, we’ve got no money left to pay for extra workers for the harvest!”

His wife, Mary, put down her cup and said, “We made a wise choice buying that extra field – but then old Jake got sick and we had to pay for the doctor.”

Old Jake was one of the many “gentlemen of the road” – often called “tramps”. Tramps would trim hedges, clean up gardens of rubbish, help farmers with haymaking. When they were young, they enjoyed this care free life and tramped from farm to farm to look for work.

But Old Jake was old! He’d tramped for his work for years and years. Many farmers looked on Old Jake as a personal friend so when he got sick, his friends, Farmer John and his wife, Mary, looked after him. That’s where the money went, on doctor’s fees, instead of hiring more workers.

Bill said, “Dad, is there anything I can do to help?

“Thanks Bill. I’d like to sharpen the scythes so we’re ready to mow the meadow tomorrow. I still don’t know how we can pay for the labourers to help us, though.”

In those far off days, people didn’t use machinery to cut the grass: they used scythes. These were long poles with a three foot blade attached to them .They hold the poles close to their body and swing the blade to cut the grass.

Mowing was done by a team of mowers who started at the edge of the meadow early in the morning when the grass was wet. As the sun rose in the sky, the day got warmer and the wet cut grass dried. It was then gathered up and stored to feed the animals over winter.

Bill and his Dad spent the morning sharpening the the 12 scythes until they were as sharp as razor blades.

“Thanks so much, Bill, we’ve got the scythes all sharpened.”

“I enjoyed it, Dad,” said Bill wiping the sweat off his forehead.“But where do we get money to hire labourers to help us mow?” asked Bill.

His mother, Mary, called out, “John, I’ve got good news for you!”

They walked to her and she said, “Old Jake’s friend, Ivor, called by to see how he was. Old Jake was so glad to see him. I told Ivor about our worries and he borrowed your bike, Bill. He said he’d find us some labourers among his friends.”

“But we can’t pay him or hisfriends,” Farmer John said.

“He said because you helped Old Jake, they’ll all help you. So I told him we could make a tasty meal for all the workers and he said, that would be really OK,” Mary smiled.

“Look Dad,” Bill said, pointing down the road. They saw Ivor riding back on the bike followed by a crowd of tramps - all eager to help mow the grass.

“Thank you, thank you all,” called out Farmer John.

They all worked hard all day, for free, saying, “You helped Old Jake,now we can help you, John.”

Mary made them a very tasty meal and when they’d finished, she said,“I’ve written a song about you all. I’ll sing it for you.”


One man went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Two men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
two men, one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Three men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Four men went to mow,
went to mow a meadowf
our men, three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Five men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
five men,four men, three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Six men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
six men, five men, four men,three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Seven men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
seven men, six men,five men, four men,three men,
two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Eight men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
eight men, seven men,six men, five men, four men,three men,
two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Nine men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
nine men, eight men, seven men,six men, five men,
four men,three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

Ten men went to mow,
went to mow a meadow
ten men, nine men, eight men,seven men, six men,
five men,four men, three men, two men,one man and his dog
went to mow a meadow

………………………………………………………………………………………

After Mary sang the song, everyone sang it again.The workers laughed until tears rolled down their cheeks.

Farmer John said, “Thank you. You'll always find work here when you come by.”

The men all smiled and said thank you for the meal. Then, still singing the song,they walked back to their camp sites.
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The rhyme is set to music. You can find it on You tube.… or….make up your own.
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