THIRD EMPTYING. 61 



Three wives sat up till the midnight hour, 



And longed for the trout that would come to the town, 

 And they gazed at the clock, and they looked for the shower 

 From each creel of the bonny trout, speckled and brown. 

 For men will fish, and women can't sleep 

 When husbands are wading in waters deep, 

 And chilled by the night wind moaning. 



Three fishers came home as the clock struck three, 



In the morning pale when the fresh went down, 

 And the women are waiting, but none of the three 



Saw aught that the fishers brought home to the town. 

 And Avomen must laugh if men will fish, 

 For they don't tell the truth quite so oft as we wish, 

 So drat the whole lot and their groaning. 



