Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-25

Or or the DiSpatch.)
The air is balmy, soft. and warm.
The shad-fiies now begin to swarm,
The dogwoodtrees I'm blossoms bright,
Proclaim that silver perch will bite.
All living nature. with glad voice.
At spring. return doth now rejoice
The hens scratch for the worms, and
cackle,
The fisherman gets out his tackle.
uhere surely is some fascination,
OR call 1t an infatuation,
Which makes some men so very fond
OF fishing in stream or pond.
Spelling their clothes, losing their din
ners.
Returning home with a few mlnnows,
And a propensity to stretch
The truth about the fish they catch.
And then the lies that they do say
Bout the big one that got away
Are such that their most truthful tale IS
Taken always "cum grano sails"
But Of all who ever went daft
On what is called the gentle craft"
Who fish for pleasure, not for profit,
Perhaps the fondest lover of 1t
Was a gentleman who did dwell
In Manchester. as I've heard tell.
(Old Manchester. that famous city
For fishermen and girls so pretty)
He fishing loved beyond all reason,
Went fishing I'm and out of season
1t took possession Of his mind.
Water 10 him appeared designed
For fishing. more than navigation,
Drinking. bathing, publication.
If he had gone to Beaufort Spring.
Whose waters health and pleasure bring.
He would not have been there minute
Before his line would have been in it.
in travelling this mortal round.
Some joys and pleasures yet are found;
Take any Joy and make IL thribble,
His Joy was greater at a nibble.
Nor words could picture his delight
When he saw his cork out Of sight"
Indeed. he was greater lover
OF fishing than that staunch old Grover,
Who. when he did not want TO so
Hunting for ducks at Quantico,
Was fishing away. day by day.
In the waters Of Buzzarc's Bay.
Now, habits in themselves not vicious.
BY excess may become pernicious,
And Just as might have been expected,
AS he his business neglected.
although man accounted clever
Before he took this fishing fever).
it did not take so very long
Before affairs with him went wrong;
Troubles and debts came on apace,
And ruin stared him In the face.
Yet. strange TO say, as he grew poor
He only fished the more and more
His good wife, who the burden bore
To keep the wolf way from the door.
Who loved him and did not upbraid,
But strove in ev'ry way 10 aid,
(What will not womans heart so pure
For worthless man she loves endureO
Would wait all day with dear concern,
Until the husbands safe return.
The little children on the watch.
Anxious to see their daddy's catch.
Poor little things. I've heard it said,
They oft went supperless 10 bed.
Since Horace wrote "Qui Fit Maecenas."
] find human nature has been as
Described by him-each ones ambition
Being TO alter his condition.
If our fisher had been content
TO take things Just as they were sent
And If he had confined his wishes
To catching ordinary fishes
Perch. cells, catfish. carp. mullets, pike,
Flatbacks reaches club. and the like
He would not have met his sad fate,
Nor l this story would relate.
But in an evil hour, alasl
He set his heart on catching bass;
And then he thought that life was
naught,
Unless a big black bass he caught.
But though he ev'ry hole did seek,
From Mayo's bridge TO Powhite creek
And though he fished early and late,
And tempted them with incest bait
From morn 10 night, they would not bite
AT crawfish, minnows, hellgramite.
One night he came not-at the gate
His loving wife for him did walt
All. loving WIFE you wait in vain,
You'll ne'er see him alive again
They found him on his fav'rlte rock,
Dead stone dead. he died Of the shock
FOR firmly held in his death grip.
His pole touched water al the tip.
Swayed to and fro and bent and shook
A five-pound bass was on his hook.
This tale was told 10 me for true,
Who got the bass ] never knew.
BENJAMIN II. WEISIGER.
Manchester, Va. April II. 1897.