Brown had returned from a fishing expedition, and, after partaking of a
most welcome dinner, was relating some of his fishing experiences.
"Last year," said he, "while fishing for pike, I dropped half a sovereign.
I went to the same place this year, and after my line had been cast a few
minutes I felt a terrific pull. Eventually I landed a line pike, which had
swallowed the hook, and, on cutting it open to release the hook, to my
amazement----"
"Ah," said his friends, "you found your half-sovereign?"
"Oh, no," replied Brown, "I found nine shillings and sixpence in silver
and threepence in copper."
"Well, what became of the other threepence?" queried his friends.
"I suppose the pike paid to go through the lock with it," answered
Brown.--_Pearson's Weekly._