The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-09-19
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AIN TALE
wIDE-AwAkE FISH.
81 MN 0AllAn b0yER

''Well," said Mrs. Pike to Mrs. Sal
mon, 1--WE can never greet each other
in the morning as some creatures can
do"
'How is that?'' asked Mrs. Salmon.
'"rhere are people who say to each
other in the mornings:
Well, and how did you sleep last
nightY
"And there are creatures and ami
mails who wake up and look at each
other and who say: Breakfast time.
Pm hungry. I do believe I've slept
enough"
NO." agreed Mrs. Salmon, 1--WE can
never say such things to each other
SIT seems to me-" said Mrs. Pike,
''that it is a very foolish waste Of time
| to sleep. Think OF the hours one misses.
Great things might be going On which
we would miss. We might find some
food whereas if we were asleep we
couldn't find it.
'"They say it's impossible to eat and
sleep at the same time. I wouldn't
want to try 1t, for I've no desire to
Sleep"
''You express my sentiments" said
Mrs. Salmon.
ST don't know just what are senti-
ments," said Mrs. Pike, ''but 1 am sure
they must be all right"
Sentiments" said Mrs. Salmon, "are
| ideas or thoughts, and when say that
| you express my sentiments say that
you have my very ideas and thoughts
and are saying them as I am thinking
| them.'
81 see, I see," said Mrs. Pike. t'Well,
| to continue, let US talk about our own
wisdom and the foolishRess of Others"
LET US do So" said Mrs. Salmon,
''for can imagine no subject more in
tereSting to talk about. If we talked
about horses as some people might do
it would be very foolish, for what care
we for hOrses?'
Nothing at ALL" said Mrs. Pike.
That's just it," agreed Mrs. Salmon.
I'VE care nothing at all for horses. We
| don't want to ride them-we wouldn't
have carriages and horses If they were
given to US and we wouldn't turn SOM
ersauIts upon them as ladies do in cir
Gus acting"
"Of course we wouldn't have horses"
said Mrs. Pike, "for we don't want to
use anything that has to stay out of
! the water"
The water is our home" said Mrs.
Salmon. "You know 1 think it is the
incest home, too. It's such a big home
such q gloriously big watery home. I
believe could sing a song about it."
IF you think you could do So" said
Mrs. Pike, then by all means do it.
But don't let your voice crack, will
your
81 never heard Of the voice of a fish
cracking" said Mrs. Salmon, $50 I
don't think need fear that danger"
well, don't let yourself swallow all
of the water, for the rest of US need
some ~ said Mrs. Pike, winkfng one of
her shiny, CLASSY eyes.
THAT'S an oldtime fish foke," said
4.4rs. Salmon. Its as old to me as is
the fact that don't sleep and that you
don't sleep and that many of the gold
fish family and some of the insects
don't sleep. Yes, there are a few SEN
sible creatures who don't believe in
spending their time, or even a part of
it, in sleeping foolishly! But 1 must
sing my song:
never sleep, never sleep,
| And do not weep, I do not weep
| For though there's water around my eyes
| It does not give me a surprise,
| For tears come from a sudden shock
Like ones head cut off upon q block
| An, no, love my watery home
| 1 love the waves. the weeds, the foam.
For the land I do not care pin
And as I finish wave a fin.
Splash. splash said Mrs. pike,
that WIS very nice song think OF
course as I am fish haven't many
brains and SO my opinion isn't worth
much. If child or some one with in
telligence heard that song they would
doubtless think it pretty poor. But I
liked it and 1 think you made a fine
ending by waving your fn-just like
making low bow"
'"Thank you for your kind words"
said Mrs. Salmon.
| IA