This is a modern-English version of The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, originally written by Potter, Beatrix. It has been thoroughly updated, including changes to sentence structure, words, spelling, and grammar—to ensure clarity for contemporary readers, while preserving the original spirit and nuance. If you click on a paragraph, you will see the original text that we modified, and you can toggle between the two versions.

Scroll to the bottom of this page and you will find a free ePUB download link for this book.

THE TALE OF

MR. JEREMY FISHER

BY

BEATRIX POTTER

F. WARNE & CO.

F. WARNE & CO.

THE TALE

OF

MR. JEREMY FISHER

THE TALE OF

MR. JEREMY FISHER

BY
BEATRIX POTTER

Author of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit," &c.

FREDERICK WARNE & CO., INC. NEW YORK

FREDERICK WARNE & CO

FOR

STEPHANIE

FROM

COUSIN B.

Once upon a time there was a frog called Mr. Jeremy Fisher; he lived in a little damp house amongst the buttercups at the edge of a pond.

Once upon a time, there was a frog named Mr. Jeremy Fisher. He lived in a small, damp house among the buttercups at the edge of a pond.

The water was all slippy-sloppy in the larder and in the back passage.

The water was all slippery and messy in the pantry and in the back hallway.

But Mr. Jeremy liked getting his feet wet; nobody ever scolded him, and he never caught a cold!

But Mr. Jeremy enjoyed getting his feet wet; no one ever scolded him, and he never caught a cold!

He was quite pleased when he looked out and saw large drops of rain, splashing in the pond—

He was really happy when he looked outside and saw big drops of rain splashing in the pond—

"I will get some worms and go fishing and catch a dish of minnows for my dinner," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "If I catch more than five fish, I will invite my friends Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise and Sir Isaac Newton. The Alderman, however, eats salad."

"I’m going to grab some worms, go fishing, and catch a bunch of minnows for dinner," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "If I catch more than five fish, I’ll invite my friends Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise and Sir Isaac Newton. But the Alderman only eats salad."

Mr. Jeremy put on a macintosh, and a pair of shiny goloshes; he took his rod and basket, and set off with enormous hops to the place where he kept his boat.

Mr. Jeremy put on a raincoat and a pair of shiny galoshes; he grabbed his fishing rod and basket, and set off with big hops to the spot where he kept his boat.

The boat was round and green, and very like the other lily-leaves. It was tied to a water-plant in the middle of the pond.

The boat was round and green, looking very much like the other lily pads. It was tied to a water plant in the center of the pond.

Mr. Jeremy took a reed pole, and pushed the boat out into open water. "I know a good place for minnows," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

Mr. Jeremy grabbed a long stick and pushed the boat out into the open water. "I know a great spot for minnows," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

Mr. Jeremy stuck his pole into the mud and fastened the boat to it.

Mr. Jeremy shoved his pole into the mud and secured the boat to it.

Then he settled himself cross-legged and arranged his fishing tackle. He had the dearest little red float. His rod was a tough stalk of grass, his line was a fine long white horse-hair, and he tied a little wriggling worm at the end.

Then he sat down cross-legged and got his fishing gear ready. He had the cutest little red float. His rod was a sturdy piece of grass, his line was a long, thin strand of white horsehair, and he attached a small, wriggling worm to the end.

The rain trickled down his back, and for nearly an hour he stared at the float.

The rain ran down his back, and for almost an hour he watched the float.

"This is getting tiresome, I think I should like some lunch," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

"This is getting annoying, I think I could use some lunch," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

He punted back again amongst the water-plants, and took some lunch out of his basket.

He kicked the ball back again among the water plants and took some lunch out of his basket.

"I will eat a butterfly sandwich, and wait till the shower is over," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

"I'll have a butterfly sandwich and wait until the shower is over," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

A great big water-beetle came up underneath the lily leaf and tweaked the toe of one of his goloshes.

A huge water beetle came up underneath the lily pad and nudged the toe of one of his galoshes.

Mr. Jeremy crossed his legs up shorter, out of reach, and went on eating his sandwich.

Mr. Jeremy crossed his legs shorter, out of reach, and continued eating his sandwich.

Once or twice something moved about with a rustle and a splash amongst the rushes at the side of the pond.

Once or twice, something stirred with a rustle and a splash among the reeds by the edge of the pond.

"I trust that is not a rat," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher; "I think I had better get away from here."

"I hope that's not a rat," said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "I think I should get out of here."

Mr. Jeremy shoved the boat out again a little way, and dropped in the bait. There was a bite almost directly; the float gave a tremendous bobbit!

Mr. Jeremy pushed the boat out a bit and dropped in the bait. There was a bite almost immediately; the float bobbed up and down wildly!

"A minnow! a minnow! I have him by the nose!" cried Mr. Jeremy Fisher, jerking up his rod.

"A minnow! A minnow! I've got him by the nose!" shouted Mr. Jeremy Fisher, pulling up his rod.

But what a horrible surprise! Instead of a smooth fat minnow, Mr. Jeremy landed little Jack Sharp the stickleback, covered with spines!

But what a terrible surprise! Instead of a smooth, plump minnow, Mr. Jeremy caught little Jack Sharp the stickleback, covered in spines!

The stickleback floundered about the boat, pricking and snapping until he was quite out of breath. Then he jumped back into the water.

The stickleback flopped around the boat, poking and snapping until he was completely out of breath. Then he jumped back into the water.

And a shoal of other little fishes put their heads out, and laughed at Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

And a school of other small fish popped their heads out and laughed at Mr. Jeremy Fisher.

And while Mr. Jeremy sat disconsolately on the edge of his boat—sucking his sore fingers and peering down into the water—a much worse thing happened; a really frightful thing it would have been, if Mr. Jeremy had not been wearing a macintosh!

And while Mr. Jeremy sat sadly on the edge of his boat—sucking on his sore fingers and looking down into the water—a much worse thing happened; a truly terrible thing it would have been, if Mr. Jeremy hadn't been wearing a raincoat!

A great big enormous trout came up—ker-pflop-p-p-p! with a splash—and it seized Mr. Jeremy with a snap, "Ow! Ow! Ow!"—and then it turned and dived down to the bottom of the pond!

A huge trout popped up—ker-pflop-p-p-p! with a splash—and it grabbed Mr. Jeremy with a snap, "Ow! Ow! Ow!"—and then it turned and dove down to the bottom of the pond!

But the trout was so displeased with the taste of the macintosh, that in less than half a minute it spat him out again; and the only thing it swallowed was Mr. Jeremy's goloshes.

But the trout was so unhappy with the taste of the macintosh that in less than half a minute, it spit him out again; and the only thing it swallowed was Mr. Jeremy's galoshes.

Mr. Jeremy bounced up to the surface of the water, like a cork and the bubbles out of a soda water bottle; and he swam with all his might to the edge of the pond.

Mr. Jeremy popped up to the surface of the water like a cork and the bubbles from a soda bottle; and he swam with all his strength to the edge of the pond.

He scrambled out on the first bank he came to, and he hopped home across the meadow with his macintosh all in tatters.

He rushed out on the first bank he found, and he jumped home across the meadow with his raincoat all in shreds.

"What a mercy that was not a pike!" said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "I have lost my rod and basket; but it does not much matter, for I am sure I should never have dared to go fishing again!"

"What a relief that wasn't a pike!" said Mr. Jeremy Fisher. "I've lost my rod and basket, but it doesn't really matter, because I'm sure I would never have dared to go fishing again!"

He put some sticking plaster on his fingers, and his friends both came to dinner. He could not offer them fish, but he had something else in his larder.

He put some band-aids on his fingers, and his friends came over for dinner. He couldn't offer them fish, but he had something else in his pantry.

Sir Isaac Newton wore his black and gold waistcoat,

Sir Isaac Newton wore his black and gold vest,

And Mr. Alderman Ptolemy Tortoise brought a salad with him in a string bag.

And instead of a nice dish of minnows—they had a roasted grasshopper with lady-bird sauce; which frogs consider a beautiful treat; but I think it must have been nasty!

And instead of a nice plate of minnows—they had a roasted grasshopper with ladybug sauce; which frogs consider a delightful treat; but I think it must have been disgusting!

THE END

Download ePUB

If you like this ebook, consider a donation!