Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-06-29
A FISH TALE TALL
By BILLY ALLEN, Alias
Shan I. Boy.

By BILLY ALLEN Alias
Shan L. Boy,
In these our longest summer days
When sunshine, showers, warmth and haze
And evening sunsets golden glow
Induce the grains and grass to grow.
When crickets chirp and ''hopperS" hop,
Mosquitoes hum and housef1ies flop.
When robins sing and bullfrOgS roar,
'Mong lily pads near to the shore,
And fishers tell their wOndrouS tales
or catching croppies. pike and whales,
In pond and river. lake and bay
or mammoth fish that got away"
A truthful fishing tale like this
Most surely will not come amiss.
THE TALE
In year of nineteen and four.
sat upon Thief rivers shore.
Upon a verdant prairie bank,
Where flowers bloOmed and grass grew rank,
Near MinneSOta'S orthern life
Where prairie meets the groves OF pine
Enormous shoals" of wall-eyed pike,
Came down from Red lake on hike.
| went to sleep upon the JOB
While waiting for the cork to bob.
4 husky" lad came down the bank,
Where prairie flowers grew bright and rank,
With shoulders broad and head erect.
Addressed me in this dialect
Stranger, it is my dying wish,
That ! could catch 'wall-eyed' fish.
There's naught on earth I'd better like,
Than catch a monster wall-eyed pike.
Stranger. If could only find
guy who would be SO inclined
To loan to me q line and pole,
And show me good fishing hole.
A cork, Sinker. and hook,
I'd try my luck in this big brook.
stranger, 'twould be my Joy and pride,
To catch fish before died.
In North Dacotah' where dwell.
OF fish one cannot get smell.
In youth, tiShed in mothers tub
But couldn't even catch chub."
said l. my friend. I'll accommodate
You with line. a pole and bait.
l have been snoring on the lob,
| While waiting for the cork TO bob,
| But you remind me forci-blee.
| OF q lumberjack when on q spree
Who asked his friend and comrade Jack
| II he had any good 'tooac'
and If he had pipe 2nd match.
And show him good place to scratch,
| Then said his friend. you must be daft,
l think you can't produce draft
! You look to ME as il you re broke,
! III furnish "mskings for smoke"
/ The prairie man said. this is fine"
/ And in the water dropped his line.
| And after minutes, half score.
| He slung pike out on the shore.
| Among the grass and weeds 50 0ank,
| Upon the rivers prairie bank
Around that fish he danced with glee,
Like lumoerl ackS when on spree.
You re safely landed on the shore.
l never caught fish before.
And IL hadn't captured you
| | sure can't tell what would do,
For since started on my way.
/ I have not tasted food to day.
But now my supper is in sight,
III dream some happy dreams to night,
don't know how captured YOU,
As you lie flopping in the dew.
Perhaps lonesome life you led.
While sleeping on the river bed.
Or. like your mother, sister. daughter,
Got tired. staying in the water.
Don't think I'll catch another one,
| Unless your mother seeks her SON
AS thus he pondered on the Job.
His cork sgsin began TO bob,
/ I've got another Just the same,
| I'm mighty glad the mother came"
BE tipped his hat and said ''adieu.
| I've supper now and breakfast. too
And as he Ssuntered TO the city,
| thought young prairie man you're witty,
| | hope that God will give you grit.
To make good use OF your wit.
For with your cheek" and stature. too.
The White House" calmly waits for you.