Classic Poem

Now what care I for politics
And all their mad and foolish tricks,
And demagogic spouting?
We've reached the time of year so glad
When men can drop the woe and gad
Of daily cares and go, my lad,
With rod and reel a-trouting!

Let business cares be what they may,
Let happen what may hap to-day
In all this world of doubting—
I have no care, for free am I
To take my rod, my reel, and fly,
And to the distant rillets hie
To ease my soul in trouting!

Prue may be cross, and Bess unkind,
But naught I care! I shall not mind
Their frowning and their pouting.
But from the social whirl I'll slip
And to the vales and hillsides skip,
And pool, and pond, and brooklet whip,
In gay and joyous trouting.

The rod, the reel, the hook, the line,
And leafy ways and fish for mine!
I'm off upon my outing,
'Mid byways peaceful and serene
Up in the hills so softly green
Where trouble never shows his mien
The while I'm at my trouting!