A Fish Story.

Sir Arthur, the sinner,     Ate twelve fish for dinner,     And you may believe it's just as I say!     For if you but knew it,     'Twas I saw him do it,     And just as it happened, sir, this was the way:     One day this tall fish     Swallowed this small fish     (He had just eaten a smaller one still);     Up came this queer one     And gobbled that 'ere one--     Didn't he show the most magical skill?     Then came this other     And chewed up his brother,     Made but one gulp, and behold he was through!     He was a gold fish     Oh! he was a bold fish--     But before he could wink he was eaten up too!     Up came a flounder,     He was a ten-pounder,     Opened his mouth, swallowed him and was gone;     Before you could blink, sir,     Before he could shrink, sir,     This fish came by and the flounder was gone!     (Alas for my story,     'Tis getting quite gory!     So many swallows a summer might make.)     This one came smiling,     And, sweetly beguiling,     Gobbled the last like a piece of hot cake;     A cod followed after;     'Twould move you to laughter     To see in his turn how this hake came up,     Swallowed that cod, sir,     As if he were scrod, sir,     And then went by in a kind of a huff!     Last, but not least,     Came this fellow, the beast--     Down went the hake like a small pinch of snuff!     Then Cap'en Jim caught him,     And then mamma bought him,     And then Annie cooked him, served up in a dish;     And so this small sinner     Who had him for dinner--     'Twas just as I say, sir--had eaten twelve fish!