"Still," said Jimmy, "if one did sing, it would certainly be overhead, and not on the ground. No robin ever sings when he's on the ground. You admit that?"
"Oh, certainly," said Ned.
"Then I think that line may stand as it is," said Jimmy.
| "All down the road and through the woods They had a lovely walk; The dog did frisk, and chase the birds, And they did laugh and talk." |
"He's been anything but a frisky dog when I've seen him," said Ned.
"Perhaps so," said Jimmy; "but there are exceptions to all rules.
| "But here their luck all left them— The case seemed very sad: For everything was good before— Now everything was bad. "Their sinkers were not large enough, The current was so strong, And so they tied on pebble-stones, To help the thing along. "And bitterly they did regret They bought their lines at Karl's; For every time they hauled them out, They found them full of snarls." |
"Of course they did," said Ned. "There's not a thing in Karl's store that's not a cheat—all imitation."
"I am glad to hear you say so," said Jimmy. "I thought you would see that the rest of the poem was true to nature.
| "When little fish got on the hooks, They soon flopped off again; When big ones bit, they gave a jerk, And snapped the line in twain." |