Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't;
Because men do what they often shouldn't;
Because crops fail, and plans go wrong;
Some of us grumble all day long.
But somehow in spite of our grumbles and doubt,
God looks down in love and works things out.

Thanksgiving Street

I once knew a man whose name was Horner,
Who used to live on Grumble Corner--
Grumble corner, in Crosspatch Town.
And he never was seen without a frown.

He grumbled at this, and he grumbled at that.
He growled at the dog. He growled at the cat.
He grumbled in the morning. He grumbled at night.
To grumble and growl was his chief delight.

He grumbled so much at his wife, that she
began to grumble, as well as he.
And all the children, wherever they went,
reflected their parents' discontent.

If the sky was dark and betokened rain,
then Mr. Horner was sure to complain.
And if there was not a cloud about,
he grumbled because of a threatened drought.

His meals were never to suit his taste--
He grumbled at having to eat in haste.
The bread was poor, or the meat was tough--
or else he hadn't had half enough.

No matter how hard his wife would try
to please her husband, with scornful eye,
he'd look around, and then with a scowl
at something or other, he'd begin to growl.

Then one day as I walked down the street,
my old acquaintance I chanced to meet.
His face was without the look of care.
Gone, was the frown that once had been there.

"I may be mistaken, perhaps," I said,
as after saluting I turned my head!
"Is it, or isn't it that Mr. Horner
who used to live on Grumble Corner?"

I met him next day and I met him again;
in melting weather and in pelting rain,
when stocks were up, and when stocks were down.
But--a smile, somehow, had replaced the frown.

It puzzled me much, and so one day,
I seized his hand in a friendly way. I said,
"Mr. Horner, I'd like to know,
what can have happened to change you so?"

He laughed a laugh that was good to hear,
For it told of a conscience, calm and clear.
And he said with none of his old-time drawl,
"Why I've changed my residence, that is all."

"It wasn't healthy on Grumble Corner,"
and so I've moved...'Twas a change complete.
"And now you'll find me living
on Thanksgiving Street."