from Leslie's Monthly
Womanly Qualms
by Ellis Parker Butler
When I go rowing on the lake,
I long to be a man;
I'll give my Sunday frock to have
A callous heart like Dan.I love the ripple of the waves
When gliding o'er the deep,
But when I see the cruel ours,
I close my eyes and weep;For there are cat-fish in our lake,
And I am filled with dread,
Lest Don should strike a pussy-fish
Upon its tender head.How would you like it if, some day
An air-ship passing by,
Should flap its cruel, thoughtless oars
And knock you in the eye?My life would be one long regret
If, for my pleasure vain,
I caused a harmless little fish
An hour of needless pain.And if Dan's heavy oars should cause
One little fish to die,
I'd never, never dare to look
Smoked herring in the eye!
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Saturday, October 07 at 7:04:44am USA Central