Alabama, 1913. 75 



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SUCCESS WITH FISH. 





I 



KNEW a man who managed once a fine aquarium, 

 And asked for hints on his success, and so he gave me some. 



"I keep my shad in shadow, and my sunfish in the sun. 



My trigger-fish most carefully I fix upon a gun. 



The bass in baskets you will find, and carp in carpets rolled, 



And jellyfish preserved in jars will never, never mold. 



I keep the skate on ice, of course ; my perch on perches perch, 



And when the day is fine, I send the angel-fish to church. 



I file away my filefish so I know just where they are; 



My swordfish in a scabbard lies, and thus escapes a mar. 



My sea-horse and my barnacle are always in the stable, 



And signs like these I keep in sight as well as I am able; 



"Please do not stir the sturgeon up, and do not poke the pike : 

 And kindly do not maim the limpet by a careless strike. 

 Pray, do not whale the gentle whale, nor rock the rockfish small, 

 And do not fly the flying-fish; it would not do at all. 

 Please do not muss the mussels up, nor saw the sawfish slim ; 

 And do not smoke the pipefish — it would make an end of him. 

 Please do not light my lamprey. These are just the hints you wish. 

 Because I follow them myself, I have success with fish.' 5 



— Youth's Companion. 



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