The moisture they sip As they cross his lip, And where there's a wrinkle to bathe, they dip. Then at hide and seek On his whisker'd cheek They frisk about; But soon they all flit, They've an order to quit, Their lease is out. For he shook his old coat, though he greatly fears He's only increasing the rent in arrears; While he stamped in his rage to destroy the nest Of the vermin who dared to disturb his rest. Now tow'rds the cot his steps were bent, A-musing as he onward went, Though no bright thoughts amuse, Until soon his mind turned to the forthcoming treat: Though the trout are too small, little fishes are sweet, And beggars their banquets mayn't choose. Now he enters the door, when, instead of too late, He discovers he has some few minutes to wait, For the fish are not done, As the dame had to run To borrow a saucepan--as fluids retire Through theirs, and will fret, and oft put out the fire. But the pan was in use, So the dame's tongue ran loose While she stayed to chat there, for best part of an hour, Of the state of affairs, Of the price of the shares, Or the politics secret of some foreign power. But now quick as steam they are boiling away, Resolved to o'ertake--if not run down--delay; While Pat and young Matty are laying the cloth, And Sally to slumber is getting Mike off. "They're but small ones to-day," said the dame, "and I fear But a very poor dinner when drest they'll appear. I wish that our cupboard could aid your repast, But Pat of them sausages just ate the last." "Now the truth is," said Peter, "I numbers had caught, But I dug in my book till so buried in thought, That soon rod, float, and line were by me heeded nought. Though lots came so near My lecture to hear, That one with my hand I nigh caught her, Those two I'd not took But they bit at my hook As baitless it lay in the water." "Oh, my ears must deceive me," said Sally, "I'm sure. Did you say your discourse to destruction would lure Those who listen by chance to the words that you say, In the place of at once getting out of the way? But wait--let me think--'twas our book you were reading. No wonder you were not your rod and line heeding. We missed it soon after you left, but we guessed, That p'rhaps of the two you might like it the best."