THE USUAL WAY

Frederick E. Weatherly

All: There was once a little man, and his rod and

line he took,

For he said

Solo 1: “I’ll go a-fishing in the neighboring brook.”

All: And it chanced a little maiden was walking out

that day.

And they met—in the usual way.

Then he sat him down beside her, and an hour or

two went by,

But still upon the grassy brink his rod and

line did lie;

Solo 2: “I thought,”

All: She shyly whispered,

Solo 2: “you’d be fishing all the day.”

All: And he was—in the usual way.

All: So he gravely took his rod in hand, and threw

the line about,

But the fish perceived distinctly that he was

not looking out;

And he said,

Solo 1: “Sweetheart, I love you!”

All: And she said she could not stay;

But she did—in the usual way.

All: Then the stars came out above them, and she

gave a little sigh,

As they watched the silver ripples, like the

moments, running by;

Solo 2: “We must say good-by,”

All: she whispered, by the alders old and gray.

And they did—in the usual way.

All: And day by day beside the stream they wandered

to and fro.

And day by day the fishes swam securely down

below

Till this ltttle story ended, as such little

stories may,

Very much—in the usual way.

And now that they are married, do they always

bill and coo?

Do they never fret and quarrel as other couples

do?

Does he cherish her and love her? Does she

honor and obey?

Well—they do—in the usual way.