‡‡‡‡‡‡“A young salmon, one day, ‡‡‡‡‡‡To his mother did say,
“I should very much like a nice leap through the spray.” ‡‡‡‡‡‡The old lady said, “Why, ‡‡‡‡‡‡If you like you may try;
But I guess that the jump will be found rather high.” ‡‡‡‡‡‡Then she just took a peep, ‡‡‡‡‡‡But thought it too deep;
“No, no,” said mamma, “Catch a weasel asleep — ‡‡‡‡‡‡Mind, child, if you go ‡‡‡‡‡‡To the realms below,
What will become of you then I don’t know.” — ‡‡‡‡‡‡But the young fish, so wise, ‡‡‡‡‡‡Did its mother despise,
And being adventurous straightforward tries. ‡‡‡‡‡‡Soon it fell from the edge, ‡‡‡‡‡‡And got dashed on a ledge,
Whence an Indian to bring it back soon gave a pledge. ‡‡‡‡‡‡The Indian so brave ‡‡‡‡‡‡His pledged honor to save,
Found a path by the rock out of reach of the wave; ‡‡‡‡‡‡Through spray and through squall, ‡‡‡‡‡‡He returned — fish and all;
And he was the first that went under the Fall. ‡‡‡‡‡‡Mr. Forsyth then came, ‡‡‡‡‡‡And went under the same,
And thus to posterity handing his name. ‡‡‡‡‡‡What after befell, ‡‡‡‡‡‡The guides best can tell — I went, with my wife; and we both liked it well!
October 24, 1839. H. Sylvester is from the Vicarage, Buckingham, England.
Source: Table Rock Album and Sketches of the Falls and Scenery Adjacent. Buffalo: Steam Press of Thomas and Lathrops, copyright by Jewett, Thomas & Co.,1856c.1848
This link takes you to the scanned version of the 1855 version of Table Rock Album from the Hathi Trust
