“Deer In Connecticut” (Sports Afield for February)

“Deer in Connecticut,” well, do you think it very strange

That deer should find their way into our charming valley range?

A broad and fertile country, yea, a woodland paradise,

With miles of forest wild and dense, ne’er viewed by human eyes?

The winding stream that tumbles down between the green-clad hills,

The quiet and sequestered nooks where run the crystal rills,

The wide and fertile pasture lands that stretch beyond the gaze

All tend to charm the agile deer to come to drink and graze.

“Deer in the good old Nutmeg State”? Wise deer, and no mistake,

To migrate to Connecticut and other lands forsake.

But not alone because of these few pleasant things I’ve wit

Do they prefer the Nutmeg State and stand in praise of it.

There is a better reason which I’ve lately come to know,

And every true son of the state will tell you it is so,

They flock across the border where the nutmeg trees grow stout,

To live on wooden nutmegs when the other feed gives out.

Feb. 11, 1901