RECREA TION. 



lv 



A SUMMER COMPANION. 



g. e. van buren (Cool Van). 



There's an insect on this river 

 That's known all o'er the land; 

 It has a torpid liver, 

 But it's chuck full of sand. 

 'Twill come at you as merry, 

 An' as blithely as can be, 

 And smite you on the cheek 

 With a smite you can't foresee; 

 An' you rise up in your anger, 

 To smash him with your hand; 

 But you miss the little hummer 

 That's so chuck full of sand. 



He is singing in your ears, 



He is buzzing at your nose. 



If you put them through the cover, 



He is pumping at your toes. 



An' you quote him scraps of scripture, 



While you fan him with your hand; 



But you miss the little warbler 



That's so chuck full of sand. 



You may talk about the instinct, 

 That's found in insect life, 

 But this bird knows his business 

 And he carries a two edged knife; 

 Your wife may raise her dainty arm, 

 To smite him with her hand, 

 But she'll miss the little insect, 

 That's so chuck full of sand. 



Here lies the little baby, 

 Here rests the tiny head, 

 And the lovely little cherub, 

 Smiles to hear the angels tread, 

 While the parents, ever watchful, 

 That their darling knows no dread. 

 The father sees an insect, 

 Settle down on baby's arm, 

 And he cautiously approaches, 

 As he mutters " you be — darn," 

 But it sails out through the window, 

 With its little bunch of sand. 



Oh, why were they created, 



Can you tell me why they're made? 



To express my mind real free on 'em 



Indeed I am afraid. 



Men tell about a vampire, 



A blood sucking thing of yore, 



A mosquito'd eat the liver out of 



Two or three or more. 



And he'd do it all so easy that, 



The vampire couldn't stand 



'Gainst this cussid little critter 



That so chuck full of sand. 



We have chickens, ducks and some quails 

 here. 



D. L. Pascal, Grand Mound, Iowa. 



WJieeler & Wilson 

 Sewing Machine. 



Rotary Motion and 



Ball Bearings. 



Don't forget that $2 will buy a copy of 

 that beautiful book, "Bird Neighbors" 

 and a yearly subscription to Recreation. 



WHEELER k WILSON MFG. CO., 



MAKERS OF SEWING MACHINES, 



ALL STYLES and SIZES, for CLOTH AND LEATHER. 



FACTORYAND HEAD OFFICE, 



BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, U. S. A. 



Please drop my name from your sub- 

 scription list. I cannot afford to take 

 Recreation. The ads. keep me poor. I 

 have just bought a .30-30 Marlin take-down 

 rifle — the one they represent as being their 

 handsomest sporting rifle, and it's a straw- 

 berry. Gee whiz! Mister, it's a beauty and 

 no mistake. Half octagon barrel, pistol 

 grip and the stock is enough to drive you 

 clear crazy. Then I bought a Yawman & 

 Erbe automatic reel, and now I am getting 

 ready to send for some Chatfield flies. 

 Whenever I have bought through Recre- 

 ation ads. the goods have always reached 

 my expectations. I expect a hummer of a 

 time with all my new things. 



J. E. Miller, Aspen, Col. 



