THE SONG MY GOOD REEL SINGS 421 



THE SONG MY GOOD REEL SINGS. 



FRANK C. REED. 



There's many a song in the land to-day, 



And many a tale they bear 

 To plodders along their chosen way: 



But sweetest to me and most fair 

 Is one of the woods and the open sky, 



Where a bold stream onward swing;,, 

 And the jostling waves go dancing by — 



The song that my good reel sings. 



"Zee, Zee !" So i". sings in a high pitched 

 tone, 



Beginning its merry song 

 With a sudden start as my barb strikes 

 home, 



And I feel him running strong ; 

 "Zee, zee !" and it angrily fights the way 



As I lose a fathom of line 

 In the first mad rush of my stricken prey," 



But I laugh— he is surely mine. 



"Zee, zee! Zee-ee-ee, give 'way, give 'way! 



He sounds ! Give him line, give him 

 line;" 

 Again do I heed what rav reel doth say 



(It's old and wise, this reel of mine), 

 And meet the fierr " surge with a line that 

 plays 



To his yet unabated might, 

 As he plunges down by devious ways 



To waters far out of sisrht, 

 And sulks, while I limber my cramped-up 

 hands 



And drink in forgotten breath, 

 Then settle my feet in the shifting sands, 



For now comes freedom or death. 



But the reel song speeds, now wary and 

 low, 



Bespeaking me caution and care ; 

 Now high pitched and shrill as, to and fro, 



The battle runs here and there ; 

 Yet it ends, as everything must, you know, 



For full to the light of the sun, 

 A silvery side drifts on the stream's flow. 



And I know that the fight is won. 



But care ! Though spent as we reel him in, 



His soirit is dauntless still ; 

 Have caution and care till his tapered fins 



The water's smooth surface shall frill. 

 Then, a step to the fore, a dip of the net, 



A long handle skillfully swung; 

 A short thrill of pride, a tinge of regret— 



And my good reel's song is sung. 



