THE LITTLE FISHERMAN.

One day a little playful boy

Said, "Dear mamma, I wish That I could go into the yard, And make believe catch fish."

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His mother told him that he might,
And gave him a pin-hook,
And bade him go to a large tub,
And think it was a brook.

He took his little rod and line,
Delighted with his play;

But soon he felt quite vexed, that he
Could catch no fish that way.

And so without his mother's leave, He through the garden passed; Out of the gate he found his way, Into the street at last.

"And now I'll go down to the wharf,
And there I'll catch some trout,"
Said little John; away he went,
Nor stopped to look about.

Soon on the wharf he found himself,
And there he stood alone;
That little child of four years old,
In petticoat and gown!

And when he saw he could not reach So very far below,

He stepped upon a floating log,

And thought he 'd catch them so.

Just then the log began to move,
And Johnny could not save
His little self from falling in
Beneath the rolling wave.

A sailor stood quite near the place,
The only person there,

Watching the little thoughtless child,

And what he next would dare.

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THE LITTLE FISHERMAN.

He plunged beneath the waters deep,
And caught the drowning boy,
And brought him safe to land again,
With generous-hearted joy.

And then he asked him where he lived,
And bade him scamper home,
And never run away again,

Or near the water come.

And John obeyed, and soon appeared
Before his dear mamma,

And cried, and told her he had been
Down where the waters are.

And as he tumbled in the sea,
A sailor rushed to save

Her little boy from drowning there,

Under the briny wave.

He never disobeyed again,

And never run away;

And now he has grown up a man,

I see him every day.