THE LONE FISHERMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2320, 18 August 1898, Page 41

THE LONE FISHERMAN.

A fisherman once for a holiday went, "With worms for bait went he, When the year was old and the day was spent, His thoughts on a brimming full basket bent, To the foanka of the Wai-po-ree. A trout on a fossicking tour came by, la search of worms came he, A nice little fat one he chanced to spy, But not the hook, so he winked his eye., By the banks of ihe Wai-po-ree. Tli9 fisherman thought, "Ah, a nibble I've aotl " So ho tightened his line, did he; The fcroutlet- said, " My ! what a slippery lot That worm must be," foi out it shot From his grasp in tho Wai-po-ree. The gentle cam? back, and the trout was glad. " 'Tis a silly young worm," thought ho, But he missed it again, and the fisher was

mad As lie cussed his luck, and the trout was sad

By the banks of the Wai-po-ree This set tli*»m both scheming — the trout and the man — Tho' from di<feront points, yon see; The one said "I shall" Ihe other "I can "—" — They did, and straightway a struggle began, On tho banks of the Wai-po-ree. Whon the trout felt the sling of the hook, hope

sunk , 'Twas odds on the man, you see, Who thought, " I shall yltiy him awhile, then yank Him up", alasi 'twas a slippery bank

Where he sat on. {he Wai-po-iee. The end of all scheming belongetli to Fate;

The man meant the fish for tea, But his wife waited patient, and still doth waii The fisher to come, for himself and his bait SM into tho Wai-po-ree. Sir Troutlet wai ho3S of tho circus now, Sj he hauled down tho man with glee; A nas4y take-do'vn, you will all allow, But tho fisher was wise, and lie made no row By tho banks of the Wai-po-ree. A fishciman now is by mermaids sought, In a lako whore tho mermaids be, And a silver trout tells, when the tale grows hot, Of tho monstrous fisheiman onco ho caught. Oa the banks of the Wai-po-ree i.