Tramp and Fish

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2>TRAMP AND FISH.</h2> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">A hungry tramp did long for dish,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And he stole a big bunch of fish,<br/></span> <span class="i0">But he full soon did come to grief,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He was quick captured as a thief.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">And brought before the magistrate,<br/></span> <span class="i0">So judge he would pronounce his fate,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Judge asked him how he came by fish,<br/></span> <span class="i0">The thief said for them he did wish,<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">The best fish ever came from brook,<br/></span> <span class="i0">I own, my Lord, I did them hook,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Said constable, he speaks what's true,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And you must give the devil his due.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Then judge did constable rebuke,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He owns fish if he did them hook,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He has not broken any clause<br/></span> <span class="i0">I know of in our fishery laws.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Unless you can show this reason,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He has hooked them out of season,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Your duty you have thus mistook,<br/></span> <span class="i0">For man had right the fish to hook.<br/></span></div> <div class="stanza"> <span class="i0">Fishing here it is not treason,<br/></span> <span class="i0">Him you had no right to seize on,<br/></span> <span class="i0">And when the poor man did fish hook,<br/></span> <span class="i0">He had a right the same to cook.<br/></span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />