Page 127 - English Class 06

“Dear mother,” said a little fish,

“Pray, is not that a fly?

I’m very hungry, and I wish,

You let me go and try.”
“Sweet innocent,” the mother cried,

And started from her nook ,

That horrid fly is put to hide ,

The sharpness of the hook .”

Now, as I’ve heard, this little trout,
Was young and foolish too,

And so he thought he’d venture out,

To see if it were true.

And round about the hook he played,

With many a longing look,
And, “Dear me,” to himself he said,

“I’m sure that’s not a hook”,

I can give one little pluck,

Let’s see and so I will.”
So on he went, and Lo! It stuck,

Quite through his little gill !

And as he faint and fainter grew,

With hollow voice he cried,
Dear mother, if I’d minded you,

I need not now have died.”

– Ann and Jane Taylor

nook : corner
hide : to conceal
hook : a curved piece of wire used for catching fish
venture : dare to go somewhere dangerous
gill : opening on the side of a fish’s head through which it breathes

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