Twas the night before Bantam lake

                    By Johnny G. and Big Daddy Grip

‘Twas the night before Bantam, when all through the house
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The fishing rods were packed in the vehicles with care,
in hopes that Northern pikes soon would be there.

The campers were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of lunkers danced in their heads.

And Big daddy in his camper and rest in their tents,
had just settled our brains for a long week of fishing.

When out on the lake there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter.
Away to the boats we flew like a flash,
started the engines and drove to the splash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen green glow,
gave the lustre of midday to fish down below,
when, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a twenty pound Pike off to the rear.

With a big swirl, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be a trick.
More rapid than eagles, his buddies they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now Tommy! Now Big Daddy Grip! Now Kenny!
On Johnny B. On Johnny G.!
And  Zeimy!

As dry leaves that before the wild torrential rains fly,
when they meet with an obstacle, that fell from the sky
so up to the surface the coursers they flew,
with the sleigh full of fish, and St. Nicholas too.

He was dressed in a wet suit, from his head to his foot,
and his clothes were all tarnished with sea weed and soot.
A bundle of fish he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

“No Pike for you all again, and have good night!”

Everybody Ready ???? LET’S GO FISHING !!!!!