The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07

pretty to be eaten.
"Oh!" 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 -
For there was an old man whose
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, untying 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. y
When he had padded to the
middle of the pond, he took from his
pockets lines and hooks and hollow
bamboo about ten inches long, which
was full of bait. There's more in fish
ing than holding a line he said,' as he
set hook for Sing Flu. ats 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. y
"You have noright to command me, .
cried Sing Flu, with the quick vexation
of an empty stomach.
81 have" said the old man calmly
II have the right of age and experience
And if YOU do not sit down, we will &C
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 bite
''My! How do want bitew he
cried, after a few seconds. ''There's nc
fun in just holding string
'Have patience. Holding string is
part of it" said the Polliwog, wiping his
| forehead with his sleeve. 'Think how
long it takes to do any thing we'll. Be.
sides, you have forgotten to keep still. y
Il wish you'd let me manage the oar.
I'd rather learn to make boat than to
fish,"
.By no MEANS" said the Polliwog
who was sculling. You are only a
child"
I'm going on eleven" cried Sing
Flu, at which the Polliwog laughed in q
way more provoking than words.
The Polliwog, as any one could see,
was great eater, and a vast stomach
often goes with a dull head. He dearly
loved to sleep, and after he had pulled
the boat into the best spot to fish, he be.
gan to doze. Sing Flu, watching for
fish, leaned far out over the stern. His
papa was coming that day, and how
proud he would be to see him eating
a fish he had caught. The little
boat was somewhat like Il punt, and
could not be tipped easily; but the fat
Polliwog did not sit in the middle. Sing
Flu was very solid; and so, when he
leaned far out on the Polliwog's side,
the boat gave sudden lurch, and in 9
moment he was going downtown
and that is all he remembered, when he
awoke, long after, to see the family doc
TOR and Shing TIE bending over him.
| The first morning he was well enough
Sing Flu went out to see the Polliwog.
My father is, a. you know, the Vice.
roy" he said, kindly, land he has bid
den me say to you to make a wish. Lei
it be for the thing you most desire, nc
matter how costly, and your wish shall
be granted. "
''But-I wish for nothing said the
old man, quite bewildered."
"For nothingr' echoed Sing Flu. "Why
l wish every day OF my life for thous
and things"
"How unfortunate! As for me wan
nothing" said the Polliwog gravely
.But since you speak of it, | have s
chilly neighbor-and I've sometimes
| thought
"Well?n
THAT 1 should be happy if l coule
buy him wadded sack for winter"
'sYou shall buy him one; but foryour
self?"
''As / have told you, honored sir,
want nothing. l have house to my
self, two sons, good wife and rice fol
all. Besides, my school-master told me
years ago, that if l INDUCED want aftel
l possessed what is necessary, wan
would destroy me-"
Honorable poet, what kind of a mar
is the Polliwig?" asked Sing Flu. thai
evening of his host.
1.-The happiest and richest man l have
ever SEEM replied Soma. "Severa
years ago he fell while repairing one O
the dams, and his head was injured
The common people call him fool since
then, but l think him philosopher y
Elizabeth Cummings, IN N. Y. Indepen
dent
AN UNPLEASANT DUTY.