FORTY—LESS ONE.

Over by the tangled thicket, Where the level meets the hill, Where the mealy alder-bushes Crowd around the ruined mill, Where the thrushes whistle early, Where the midges love to play, Where the nettles, tall and stinging, Guard the vine-obstructed way, Where the tired brooklet lingers; In a quiet little pool, Mistress Salmo Fontinalis[A] Keeps a very private school. Forty little speckled beauties Come to learn of her, each day, How to climb the foaming rapids, Where the flashing sunbeams play,— How to navigate the eddies, How to sink and how to rise, How to watch for passing perils, How to leap for passing flies,— When to play upon the surface, When beneath the stones to hide,— All the secrets of the water, All brook learning, true and tried;— "That's a good-for-nothing skipper;" "That's a harmless yellow-bird;" "That's the flicker of the sunshine, When the alder-leaves are stirred;" "That's the shadow of a cloudlet;" "That's a squirrel come to drink;" "That—look out for him, my darlings!— He's a fierce and hungry mink;" "That's the ripple on the water, When the winds the wavelets stir;" "That—snap quick, my little hearties!— That's a luscious grasshopper." So the clever Mistress Salmo Gives her counsel, day by day,— Teaching all the troutly virtues, All life's lessons, grave and gay. Well she knows the flashing terror Of King Fisher's sudden fall! Well she knows the lurking danger Of the barb'd hook, keen and small! Well she tries to warn her pupils Of all evils, low and high! But, alas! the vain young triflers Sometimes disobey—and die! What was that which passed so quickly, With a slender shade behind? What is that which stirs the alders When no ripple tells of wind? What sends Mistress Salmo darting Underneath the stones in fear?— Crying, "Hide yourselves, my darlings! Our worst enemy is near!" "I am bound to understand it," Says one self-proud speckle-side; "When I see the danger's real, Then, if need be, I can hide." So he waits alone and watches, Sees the shadow pass again, Sees a fly drop on the water,— Dashes at it, might and main. "Missed it! Well," he says, "I never! That's the worst jump made to-day! Here another comes—now for it!" Splash! He's in the air—to stay! When the alders cease to tremble, Silence comes and sun-glints shine, Mistress Salmo Fontinalis Calls the roll,—just thirty-nine!