The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-04-09

his fathers house, but never with q real
hook; for the golden carp in it were too
pretty to be eaten.
sOh'' he sighed. 'I've only played
at fishing. Here are real fish that may
be caught; but I've no line or hook.
That's the way things 60, somehow"
business it was to look after the ponds,
and who was called the Polliwog, he was
so short and fat, and just at this moment
he came waddling down the terraces,
looking very cool in his short, blue cot
ton trousers, blue cotton shirt and wide
bamboo hat. In his hand was some
fishing tackle, and he cried out politely:
"Ah my honored young gentleman, do
you want to fishp'
"My! Yes!'' answered Sing Flu, start
ing up.
"You can fish here any time for the
asking" said the Polliwog, uhtying the
bamboo rope, and drawing the boat to
the shore that he might scramble into
it. II suppose any thing worth
having is worth that trouble"
When he had padded to the
middle of the pond, he took from his
pockets lines and hooks and a hollow
bamboo about ten inches long, which
was full of bait. There's more in fish
ing than holding line," he said, as he
set a hook for Sing Flu. "It's like many
another great thing in this world, made
up of little things that some men can
never learn the trick of Now drop
this into the water, and We'll be as still
as birds at noon."
..It's as black as ink just now,'' said
Sing Flu, rising and looking over the
boat. 81 don't see any thing"
'.That's because it is deep. Now sit
down, my honored young gentleman. "
"You have noright to command me, y
cried Sing Flu, with the quick vexation
of an empty stomach.
II have,n said the old man calmly.
"T have the right of age and experience.
And if you do not sit down, we will go
to the shore in an instant.
Down went Sing Flu, feeling very un-
comfortable. He had been brought up
to be always polite to all old people.
But he soon forgot every thing in his
desire for Il bite.
"My! How do want bite!" he
cried, after few seconds. There's nc
fun in just holding string"
.'Have patience. Holding q string is
part of it, said the Polliwog, wiping his
forehead with his sleeve. "Think how
long it takes to do any thing well. Be
sides, you have forgotten to keep still. :
81 wish you'd let me manage the oar
I'd rather learn to make a boat than tc
fish. .
s.By no means,' said the Polliwog
who was sculling. .'You are only /
child
s.Im going on eleven" cried Sins
Flu, at which the Polliwog laughed in ;
way more provoking than words.
The Polliwog, as any one could see
was great eater, and vast stomach
often goes with a dull head. He dearl,
loved to sleep, and after he had pullet
the boat into the best spot to fish, he be
gan to doze. Sing Flu, watching TO
fish, leaned far out over the stern. Hi
papa was coming that day, and hoy
proud he would be to see him eatin!
fish he had caught. The littl
boat was somewhat like a punt, an
could not be tipped easily; but the fla
Polliwog did not sit in the middle. Sin
Flu was very solid; and so, when h
leaned far out on the Polliwog's side
the boat gave sudden lurch, and in
moment he was going down-dowr
and that is all he remembered, when b
awoke long after, to see the family doc
tor and Shing TIE bending over him.
The first morning he was well enoug
Sing Flu went out to see the Polliwog.
ssMy father is, as you know, the Vice
T row." he said, kindly, land he has biz
den me say to you to make wish. Ii
, it be for the thing you most desire, n
m after how costly, and your wish sha
{ be granted.
, ''But II wish for nothing" said Il
old man, quite bewildered."
stFor nothing!'' echoed Sing Flu. 'tWl
5 l wish every day of my life for thou
and things"
.How unfortunate! As for me wa
nothing said the Polliwog gravel
9 ssBut since you speak of it, / have
: chilly neighbor I've sometim
thought"
"Wellp"
: 'That l should be happy if / cou
buy him a wadded sack for winter.'
), SYou shall buy him one; but foryor
: selfp''
q q Gas l have told you, honored sir,
want nothing. | have a house to n
= self, two sons, Il good wife and rice /
3 all. Besides, my school-master told ii
y y years ago, that if l indulged awant aft
I possessed what is necessary, wa
: would destroy me-"
! Honorable poet, what kind of a m
d is the PolliwigP" asked Sing Flu, Il
4 evening of his host.
a a 'sThe happiest and richest man I ha
!, ever seen,n replied Se-ma. t'Sevel
Il years ago he fell while repairing one
Il the dams, and his head was iniur
l. The common people call him fool sir
+ then, but think him a philosopher. :
!, Elizabeth Cummings, IN N. I. hadep
"a dent.
re
iS AM IINpI EACANT nIITX