How a Fisherman Corked up His Foe in a Jar

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2 class="head"><em>How a Fisherman Corked<br/>up His Foe in a Jar</em></h2> <div class="figcenter b" style="width: 50px;"> <ANTIMG src="images/divider.png" width-obs="50" height-obs="67" alt="" title="" /></div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 b"> <div>A fisherman lived on the shore,</div> <div class="i1">(It&#8217;s a habit that fishers affect,)</div> <div>And his life was a hideous bore:</div> <div class="i1">He had nothing to do but collect</div> <div>Continual harvests of seaweed and shells,</div> <div class="i1">Which he stuck upon photograph frames,</div> <div>To sell to the guests in the summer hotels</div> <div class="i1">With the quite inappropriate names!</div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i-137.png" width-obs="500" height-obs="335" alt="" title="" /></div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 t b"> <div>He would wander along by the edge</div> <div class="i1">Of the sea, and I know for a fact</div> <div>From the pools with a portable dredge</div> <div class="i1">He would curious creatures extract:</div> <div>And, during the season, he always took lots</div> <div class="i1">Of tourists out fishing for bass,</div> <div>And showed them politely impossible spots,</div> <div class="i1">In the culpable way of his class.</div> </div> <div class="figcenter"> <ANTIMG src="images/i-138.png" width-obs="300" height-obs="235" alt="" title="" /></div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 t b"> <div>It happened one day, as afar</div> <div class="i1">He roved on the glistening strand,</div> <div>That he chanced on a curious jar,</div> <div class="i1">Which lay on a hummock of sand.</div> <div>It was closed at the mouth with a cork and a seal,</div> <div class="i1">And over the top there was tied</div> <div>A cloth, and the fisherman couldn&#8217;t but feel</div> <div class="i1">That he ought to see what was inside.</div> </div> <div class="figcenter"><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</SPAN></span> <ANTIMG src="images/i-139.jpg" width-obs="600" height-obs="706" alt="" title="" /></div> <div class="caption four2"> <div>This shows us the fisher beginning to blow</div> <div>Of preserving himself while he pickled his foe.</div> </div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 b"> <div>But what were his fear and surprise</div> <div class="i1">When the stopper he held in his hand!</div> <div>For a genie of singular size</div> <div class="i1">Appeared in a trice on the sand,</div> <div>Who said in the roughest and rudest of tones:</div> <div class="i1">&#8220;A monster you&#8217;ve foolishly freed!</div> <div>I shall simply make way with you, body and bones,</div> <div>And that with phenomenal speed!&#8221;</div> </div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 b"> <div>The fisherman looked in his face,</div> <div class="i1">And answered him boldly: &#8220;My friend,</div> <div>How you ever were packed in that space</div> <div class="i1">Is something I don&#8217;t comprehend.</div> <div>Pray do me the favor to show me how you</div> <div class="i1">Can do it, as large as you are.&#8221;</div> <div>The genie retorted: &#8220;That&#8217;s just what I&#8217;ll do!&#8221;</div> <div>And promptly re&#235;ntered the jar.</div> </div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 b"> <div>The fisherman corked him up tight:</div> <div class="i1">The genie protested and raved,</div> <div>But for all he accomplished, he might</div> <div class="i1">As well all his shouting have saved.</div> <div>And, whenever a generous bonus is paid,</div> <div class="i1">The fisherman willingly tells</div> <div>The singular tale of this trick that he played,</div> <div>To the guests in the summer hotels.</div> </div> <div class="verse flcenter w2 b"> <div><em>The Moral</em>: When fortune you strike,</div> <div class="i1">And you&#8217;ve slipped through a dangerous crack,</div> <div>Get as forward as ever you like,</div> <div class="i1">But never, oh, <em>never</em> get back!</div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />