150 ANGLING LITERATURE IN 



THE FISHERMAN AND HIS WIFE. 



There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in 

 a ditch, close by the sea-side. The fisherman used to go 

 out all day long a-fishing ; and one day, as he sat on the 

 shore with his rod, looking at the shining water and watch- 

 ing his line, all on a sudden his float was dragged away 

 deep under the sea ; and in drawing up he pulled a great 

 fish out of the water. The fish said to him, " Pray let 

 me live : I am not a real fish ; I am an enchanted prince, 

 put me in the water again, and let me go." " Oh I" said 

 the man, " you need not make so many words about the 

 matter ; I wish to have nothing to do with a fish that can 

 talk ; so swim away as soon as you please." Then he 

 put him back into the water, and the fish darted straight 

 down to the bottom, and left a long streak of blood be- 

 hind him. 



When the fisherman went home to his wife in the ditch, 

 he told her how he had caught a great fish, and how it 

 had told him it was an enchanted prince, and that on 

 hearing it speak he had let it go again. " Did you not 

 ask it for anything ?" said the wife. " No," said the 

 man, "what should I ask for?" "Ah!" said the wife, 

 "we live very wretchedly here in this nasty stinking ditch ; 

 do go back, and tell the fish we want a little cottage." 



The fisherman did not much like the business : however, 

 he went to the sea, and when he came there the water 

 looked all yellow and green. And he stood at the water's 

 edge, and said, 



