<div><h1 id='ch8'>CHAPTER VIII<br/> <span class='sub-head'>FARMER BROWN’S BOY HAS NO LUCK</span></h1></div>
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<p class='line0'>Oh, who would not a-fishing go—a-fishing go—a-fishing go?</p>
<p class='line0'>  Oh, who would not a-fishing go all on a summer’s day?</p>
<p class='line0'>Oh, who would not a-fishing go—a-fishing go—a-fishing go?</p>
<p class='line0'>  Oh, who would not a-fishing go where fishes sport and play?</p>
<p class='line0'>                             <span class='it'>Little Joe Otter.</span></p>
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<p class='pindent'><span class='sc'>Farmer Brown’s</span> boy with his
rod and a can of worms was making
his way to the Laughing Brook.
He felt good all over, did Farmer
Brown’s boy. He felt good because
it was the kind of a day to
make any one feel good. And he
felt good because it was a holiday
for him and he knew that he had
earned it. He had worked hard in
the hayfield for days and days, and
in the cornfield and in the garden,
and never once had he complained.
You see, he knew that the work
just had to be done. That morning
at breakfast Farmer Brown had
given him a surprise. It was
such a splendid surprise! He had
told him that that day was to be
his very own in which to do just
what he wanted to do. Do you
wonder that he felt good all over?</p>
<p class='pindent'>The very first thing he thought
of was fishing. He just <span class='it'>knew</span> that
the speckled trout were waiting for
him to catch them. And now he
was on his way with a lunch in his
pocket and joy in his heart, so
much joy that it was bubbling out
in the merriest of whistles. As he
made his way through the Green
Forest to the Laughing Brook, it
seemed to him that all the little
people he saw by the way were
glad because he was glad.</p>
<p class='pindent'>Now there was a certain quiet
pool deep in the Green Forest
where Farmer Brown’s boy was
certain he would find hungry trout.
He hadn’t the smallest doubt of it.
More than once he had looked
down in that clear pool and seen
big trout there, and he was sure
he would find them there now.
So he headed straight for this particular
pool. When he was near
enough he put a fat worm on his
hook and dropped it in the water.
He didn’t doubt that it would be
taken at once by a fat, hungry,
speckled trout.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“I ought to catch at least three
in this pool,” said he to himself,
and waited, keeping perfectly
still. Nothing happened. Farmer
Brown’s boy moved the bait about
in the most enticing way he knew
how, and still nothing happened.
He didn’t get so much as a nibble.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“This is queer,” muttered Farmer
Brown’s boy. “I never have had
to wait so long for a bite in this
pool before.” He continued to
keep perfectly still, as a good fisherman
should, and waited patiently.
Still there wasn’t a nibble. Presently,
having nothing else to do, he
began to take note of things, the
trees, the flowers, the humming insects
and at last the opposite bank,
which was steep and smooth.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if something had
been sliding down there,” he muttered.
“Wonder what it could
have been. Funny the trout don’t
bite. I hate to give up, but guess
I’ll have to. I’ll go down to the
next pool and try my luck there.”</p>
<p class='pindent'>So he trudged down to the next
pool and a pair of sharp eyes
watched him go. They were the
eyes of Sammy Jay, and Sammy
was chuckling under his breath.
You see, he knew why Farmer
Brown’s boy had caught no fish.
The pool which he had just left
was the very pool in the bank of
which Little Joe Otter and Mrs.
Otter had their home, and now
there were no fat trout there.
Little Joe and Mrs. Joe had caught
all of them. They are especially
fond of trout.</p>
<p class='pindent'>But Farmer Brown’s boy knew
nothing of this. In fact, he knew
very little about Little Joe Otter
anyway. So he trudged on, sure
that he would have better luck in
the next pool. Sammy Jay followed,
still chuckling. He seemed
to find something a great joke.</p>
<p class='pindent'>“There are smarter fishermen
in this brook than you, and I
wouldn’t give much for all the fish
you will catch,” he remarked to
no one in particular. But he was
looking at Farmer Brown’s boy,
who still had no luck.</p>
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