--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Perrins, Glen collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 28 number: 5 published: 1925-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Glen Perrins, “A Fish That Got Bit,” *Improvement Era 28, no. 5 (March 1925)*: 453–454." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2805unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera2805unse start_page: 453 end_page: 454 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1925-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2805unse publication_year: 1925 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1925, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # A Fish That Got Bit A FISH THAT GOT BIT By Glen Perrins When I was 17 or 18 years of age I slipped away from mother's apron strings and visited an old time state fair. I, of course, felt very free, and the four dollars which I jingled in ,my trouser pocket gave me the impression that I owned the world. I thought that I knew almost everything about state fairs and that I was thoroughly "wise" to the trick games, of which I had read a great deal. A bite at one of the concessions, however, assured me that I still had a little to learn. "Hit the Kitties" was a popular sport in those days, — for "green horns." A ball was purchased for 50c and a cloth cat stood up. The idea of the game was to knock him off the shelf and win a "genuine Navajo blanket." It was, of course, the fellow at the stand assured me, a "game of skill." I felt that the crowd was watching, so I marched boldly up to the stand, purchased three balls and "wang." Down went the cat, but not off the perch. Again, and the same luck. "Hit it up a little higher," said the concession dealer. "Like this * * * " and off fell the cat. i So I tried it again, but I did not have such good fortune. "Take it easy," said the fellow at the stand. "Here are a couple of shots free, try it again, just to practice." The crowd by this time had gathered around. I picked up the balls and to my surprise knocked the cats down, and this time clear off their perch. With this encouragement I felt confident so I paid an- other dollar and tried "my skill" again, — twice, — but no luck. Then, when I had failed, the "considerate" concession dealer "kindly confided" that more people were standing beside me and that his business was bound to pick up. To promote his trade he said he would give me my money back, (together with a Navajo blanket, if I knocked any cat off the shelf, once. I still had a dollar fifty left. I jingled it a moment, and then laid down another dollar, this time, however, thoughtfully. I was wondering * * * so I asked him if I might try a few practice shots first. "Sure," he replied. And again I had good luck, — the cats fairly rolled off the shelf. "Now for a Navajo," I cried, and hit a cat square in the head. It balanced, dangerously near the edge, and then, as I stood gapping at it, the cat settled back into place. The same with the second shot. I began to grow discouraged, and was not half as eager to part with my remaining fifty cents. I wondered if I was a "fish" biting tempt- ingly at a mirage bait. I had heard of skin games, and now when my 4 54 IMPROVEMENT ERA "pin money" was almost exhausted I began to get suspicious. Never- theless, I tried again, and left, as the concession dealer assured me, "a good sport," but broke. About this time a small boy who was "wise" took hold of my arm and taking me aside told me how I had "bit:" When the concession owner of the "skin game" wanted me to knock the cat off, as he did when I was practicing, or "showing off," he moved the cat back on the shelf an inch, — just enough so that a hit placed high enough up, and with a reasonable amount of skill, it would fall off. But that when I was really playing for a blanket the cat was moved back into place, and it is almost impossible to win a "genuine Navajo." Yes, Barnum was right: there is one born every minute (or oftener) and I had been one of them. I was a fish that got bit. Of course, feeling the loss of my four dollars quite heavily, I explained to the head concession dealer, but he laughed. I had to swallow my "educational experience," bitterly, as it was given me then. I was cured of "biting" at "skin games." Boast Not Boast not of the things you're going Dream not of reaping a harvest, to do Of rewards both rich and great, In the future far away, But righdy seed Ufc.s furrow> Forgetful of the many tasks n ,1 c , ft ' tre trie bpnng wears on too late. Awaiting your efforts today. Tu c - • l- c i Would you be one of the mowers, I he future years might fail you, ' Misfortune's hand entail you, Be thou first one of the sowers' Beter fix your heed With the soil well tilled, On the present need, And the furrow well filled, And do the works of today. You can safely rest and wait. Sing not of the crown you hope to wear. Sometime in eternity, For mystery shrouds that better land; Today is for me and you. Today 'tis to shun temptation. Thereby make some preparation To meet your God, On Celestial sod, And be crowned eternally. Logan, Utah SARAH E. MlTTON