THE GENTLE ART (OF SNIGGLING).

["Whoever walks beside the river (the Ettrick), will observe
five or six or more men and boys, equipped with gigantic
wading-breeches, busy in each pool. They are only armed with
rods and flies, and thus have a false appearance of being
fair fishers.... The truth is that the apparent sportsmen are
snigglers, not anglers. They drive the top part of their rods
deep into the water, so as to rake the bottom, and then bring
the hook out with a jerk. Every now and then ... one of
the persecuted fishes ... is hauled out with short
shrift."--_Daily News._]

Oh! the world's very bad, and our hearts they are sore
As we think of the errors and wrongs we have got to
Endure uncomplaining, and oh! we deplore
The things people do, that they really ought not to!
With Courtesy dead, and with Justice "a-bed,"
When the mention of Love only causes a giggle,--
But we'd manage to live and still hold up our head,
Were it not for the villain who ventures to sniggle.

With his rod and his hook see him carefully rake
The bed of the river, and gallantly wading,
Arrayed in his breeches, endeavour to make
Of genuine sport but a mere masquerading.
You might think him a fool for his trouble--but look!
(And it's true, though at first it appears to be gammon)
With a horrible jerk, as he pulls up his hook,