A black hen lays a white egg
Charles Spurgeon · John Ploughman's Pictures; or, More of His Plain Talk for Plain People
EGG.
THE egg- is white enough though the
hen is black as a coal. This is a
very simple thing, but it has pleased the
II (i6i)
1 62 JOHN PLOUGHMAN'S PICTURES.
simple mind of John Ploughman, and made
him cheer up when things have gone hard
with him. Out of evil comes good, through
the great goodness of God. From threat-
ening clouds we get refreshing showers ;
in dark mines men find bright jewels : and
so from our worst troubles come our best
blessings. The bitter cold sweetens the
ground, and the rough winds fasten the roots
of the old oaks. God sends us letters of
love in envelopes with black borders.
Many a time have I plucked sweet fruit
from bramble bushes, and taken lovely roses
from among prickly thorns. Trouble is to
believing men and women like the sweet-
briar in our hedges, and where it grows
there is a delicious smell all around if the
dew do but fall upon it from above.
Cheer up, mates, all will come right in the
end. The darkest night will turn to a fair
morning in due time. Only let us trust in
God, and keep our heads above the waves
of fear. When our hearts are right with
God everything is right. Let us look for
the silver which lines every cloud, and when
we do not see it let us believe that it is
there. We are all at school, and our great
THE BLACK HEN LAYS A WHITE EGG. 163
Teacher writes many a bright lesson on the
black-board of affliction. Scant fare teaches
us to live on heavenly bread, sickness bids
us send off for the good Physician, loss of
friends makes Jesus more precious, and even
the sinking of our spirits brings us to live
more entirely upon God. All things are
working together for the good of those who
love God, and even death itself will bring
them their highest gain. Thus the black
hen lays a white ^%%.
" Since all that I meet shall work for my good,
The bitter is sweet, the medicine is food ;
Though painful at present 'twill cease before long.
And then, oh how pleasant the conqueror's song ! '*