SHERIFF McFEE'S BIG BASS. 



C. C. HASKINS. 



Old Sheriff McFee was of "fishing quite Now Jonathan D. e're the sun broke his nap 



fond, Went down the next morning to catch the 



In lake or in brooklet, in river or pond, big chap, 



And down at the tavern big yarns he would And silently baiting he made a sly cast, 



spin When quicker than winking he had a fish 



But the fish being absent, his stories seemed fast. 



thin Says Jonathan D., "So I've got you," says 



To Jonathan D., who said, says he, he, 



"I don't take no stock in old Sheriff Mc- "I'd like if the sheriff was jest here to 



Fee." see." 



Now Sheriff McFee of his tackle was proud When Jonathan D. brought his fish to the 



And boasting its virtues he spoke long and 

 loud ; 



"Two hooks back to back are the catchers 

 for me/' 



Says the toothless old sheriff. "Oh ! fiddle- 

 de-de," 

 Says Jonathan D. "Why don't he use 



three? 

 I don't want no hooks of old Sheriff Mc- 

 Fee." 



land, 



The language he used you can well un- 

 derstand 



When I tell you his prize weighed a pound, 

 just about, 



And instead of a bass it was just a bull 

 pout. 

 And Jonathan D. said, "I snummy," says 



he, 

 "That's the funniest bass that I ever did 

 see." 



Once Sheriff McFee after fishing all day, And fast in its muzzle when Jonathan 



Sneaked home through the alleys and every 

 by-way, 



For fear of the roast from the boys, don't 

 you see; 



When crossing his path there was Jon- 

 athan D. 

 "Ah! what luck to-day, sir, how many?" 



says he, 

 "Is that all you've got, sir?" says Jona- 

 than D. 



Says Sheriff McFee, "Yes, it has a bad 

 look, 



But a 7 pound bass carried off my best And wishing to add to the sheriff's re- 

 hook, nown, 



Up there by the willows, at Davis's dam, The fish when set up bore this legend, you 



He looked when he jumped like a 20 pound see, 



ham." "A 7 pound bass weighed by Sheriff Mc- 



Says Jonathan D., "He's a wonder," says Fee." 



he, And Jonathan he told the story to me 



"I'd jest like to catch him," says Jona- Of this fish that was weighed by the 



than D. scales of McFee. 



looked, 

 He saw where the sheriff the same fish 



had hooked ; 

 For his "very best hook that the world 



ever saw," 

 With a bit of the leader, was stuck in its 



jaw. 

 And Jonathan shouted, while dancing in 



glee, 

 "We'll have this bass stuffed as a roast 



for McFee." 



Now Jonathan D. has a bar down in town, 



"So the President is the servant of the 

 people, eh?" said the man from a foreign 

 land. "It seems to me you treat him with 

 a great deal of respect and consideration 

 for a servant." 



"Huh !" scornfully retorted the native 

 born. "I guess you never lived in the sub- 

 urbs." — Puck. 



38 



