The Little Red (Quaker) Hen

by an Uneasy Friend

Once upon a time, there was a Little Red Hen. The Little Red Hen attended a Meeting and was F/friends with… a lazy dog, a sleepy cat, and a noisy duck. One day the Little Red Hen felt spirit move.

“Who will gather and worship with me on this query?” the Little Red Hen asked.

“Not I,” barked the lazy dog.

“Not I,” purred the sleepy cat.

“Not I,” quacked the noisy duck.

“Then I will do it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. So she listened and nurtured a message all by herself.

When the leading was discerned, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will help me serve on this committee?”

“Not I,” barked the lazy dog.

“Not I,” purred the sleepy cat.

“Not I,” quacked the noisy duck.

“Then I will do it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. So she called and clerked the committee all by herself.

When the committee was done drafting the minute and it was approved by the Meeting, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will volunteer and help me do this work?”

“Not I,” barked the lazy dog.

“Not I,” purred the sleepy cat.

“Not I,” quacked the noisy duck.

“Then I will do it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. So she organized and facilitated everything all by herself.

When the work was done, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will enjoy the fruits of the labor?”

“I will,” barked the lazy dog.

“I will,” purred the sleepy cat.

“I will,” quacked the noisy duck.

“Yes,” said the Little Red Hen, “but now I must be released. For my spirit has worn thin and this calling has become a burden I cannot carry alone. The bright light that once shone from within me is but an ember.”

So the Little Red Hen resigned her membership and the Meeting shrank.