Time to roll up your own sleeves

Before tractors and combined harvesters were invented, farmers in one part of the country would often promise to help the others when their crops were ready. So one day when a farmer saw his crops were ready for the harvest, he sent a message to all his neighbours asking them to come and help him.

He put tables in his barn, and bought meat and pies to give them a big feast when they had finished. But the days passed, the birds ate all day from his corn and no-one came to help him. At last he said to his son, "We shall have to cut the wheat and barley ourselves." It was hard work in the hot sun, and it took them many days to finish. But as a reward they had the big feast all to themselves!