In religion devout, and in morals severe,
Yet,—true as it’s strange, and sad as it’s true,—
Not able to manage a birch bark canoe!
So now,—at the paddle by no means a dab,—
He caught what is vulgarly known as a “crab”:
His balance he lost, the canoe was upset,
And Father Le Cocq tumbled into the wet!
Poor Father Le Cocq! any chance looker-on
Would have fancied for certain, his usefulness gone.
And, indeed, the priest’s chance was uncommonly slim,