The Trout Of Today

Dame Nature soon will shed her coat

     Of gloomy ice and snow;

and stand arrayed, a modest maid,

     Beneath a greener glow,

Ye speckled trout will leave his lair,

     Down in the salty sea,

And shoot the streams of anglers’ dreams,

     As happy as can be.

Ye fishermen will venture forth

     And softly lie in wait

With fingers cool, beside the pool,

     With fat and juicy bait.

And will ye festive beauty pause

     And tempting thoughts allow?

Ah, no, he’ll pass the bait, alas!

     He’ll not play “hooky” now.

Jan. 21, 1900