Luke 13:34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!
Last Sunday’s Gospel reading got me thinking about our Island’s own “Hen Lady,” Nancy Luce. Nancy was a caretaker to her family and their farm, living in destitute conditions, but as the Island opened to tourism after the Civil War, Nancy became a female entrepreneur, selling her books of poetry and letting tourists take pictures of her for a fee at her farm in West Tisbury. Nancy had a heart for the chickens but to share God’s mercy, that we should also be kind to each other and each animal in our care.
1866
Be sure to have feelings for the poor harmless
dumb creatures,
And not abuse then, and not let them suffer,
And not be cruel them in no way, they can’t help themselves,
Consider how you would feel, if you could not help yourselves,
And folks crueld you,
If you had any of the love of God in your hearts,
You would not cruel the poor harmless dumb creatures…
Be sure and do as you wish to be done by,
In deeds, words and thoughts,
To human and to the poor harmless dumb creatures too,
Be sure and not do nor say anything,
To damage, nor plague any one,
Consider, and stamp all wickedness under foot…
Be sure and choose what is right, in the sight of God,
Be sure and not have any evil thoughts in your hearts,
Be sure and Banish it all clear.
Nancy Luce, Poor Little Hearts, 1867 or 68, self-published
Nancy’s grave in West Tisbury is easy to spot and worth a visit if you have never been there. Just look for the chickens in the West Tisbury cemetery. Also on permanent display at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum are two gravestones Nancy had made for her chickens, Ada Queetie, Beauty Linna, Tweedle Dedel and Bebbee Pinky.
Respectfully submitted,
Laura Noonan