Twas the night before Fishing, when all through the stream
Not a creature was stirring, not even a bream.
The stockings were released by the authorities with care,
I had hopes that trout soon would be there.
The rock bass were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of wooley buggers danced in my head.
And mamma in her blanket, and I in my cap,
Had just settled the terms of my fishing attack.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see my friend ?Hatter?.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
To open the day so bold and so brash.
The loon on the lake sang a song of wo
Giving a feeling of gloom it did sow.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a hatch of caddis, and eight fishing rising.
With a little old bamboo, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment my luck might sure quit.
More flies I ordered and fast they came,
And Hatter whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
“Now Damsel! Now Dragon, ! now, Parachute and Hopper!
On, Cahill! On, Caddis! on Spinner and Coachman!
To the top of the water! to the top of the swell!
Now cast away! Cast away! Cast away all!”
As dry flies that before the wild frenzy fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, please slip on by.
So up to the rock-top the coursers they flew,
With my creel full of the take, and Hatter?s too.
And then, in a twinkling, I saw with a poof
The prancing and spawning of each little fish .
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the stream they all went with a bound.
Hatter was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with mud and roots.
Our bundle of fish he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.
His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!
He was chubby and plump, right jolly was hisself,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had something to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And looked at the water, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the creel he did rose!
It he turned it toward his feet, to his team he gave whistle,
And away they all swam and down they did hustle.
And I heard him exclaim, ?ere he walked out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good life!”
