The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-02-24
THE DISAPPOINTED ANGLERS.
AN INDIAN TALE.

In winding Of the river Armidar, Just
before it falls into the Caspian Sea, lies an
island unfrequented by the inhabitants of
the Continent. In this seclusion, blessed |
with all that wild uncultivated nature could |
bestow, lived princes and her two daugh |
ters. She had been wrecked upon the coast
whllehe children as yet were infants, who
consequently, though grown up, were en-
tirely unacguainted with man. Yet, mex
perienced as the young ladies were in the
opposite SEX both early discovered symp-
toms. the one of prudery, the other Of be-
ing coquette.-The elder was ever lear
ming maxlms Of wisdom and discretion from
her mother, while the younger employed
all her hours in gazing at her own face in
neighbouring fountain. Their usual a
musement in this solitude was fishing, their
mother had taught them all the secrets of
the art; she showed them which was the
most likely place to throw out the line, what
bats where most proper for the various
seasons, and the best manner to draw up the
Gnney pry, when they had hooked 1t. In
this manncrthey spent their time, easy and
innocent; till one day the Princes being in
disposed, desired them to 60 and catch her
sturgeon or a porpoise for supper, which
she fancied might sit easy on her stomach.
The daughters obeyed; and clapping on a
gold fish, the usual bait on those occasions,
went and sat upon one Of the rocks, letting
the gilded HOOK glide down the stream.
On the opposite shore, father down, at the
mouth Of the river, lived diver for pearls;
a youth who, by long habit in his trade,
was almost amphibious; so that he could
remain long at the bottom of the water with
out ever fetching breath. He happened to
be at the very instant diving when the ladies
where fishing with the gilded hook. See
ing, therefore, the bait, which to him had
the appearance of real gold, he was resolved
to seize the prize; bit both his hands being
already filed with oysters, he found himself
obliged to snap at it with his month. The
CONSCIENCE is easily imagined; the hook be-
ing unperceived was instantly fastened in
his jaw, nor could he, with all his efforts al
houndering, get free.
Sister, cries the youngest princes--I
have certainly caught monstrous fish;
never perceived anything struggle so at the
other end Of my line before; come and help
me draw it in They both now, therefore
assisted in pulling up tie diver on shore.
but nothing could equal their surprise upon
seeing him!
Bless my oyesr cried the prude-'what
have we got here! This is very odd fish
to be sure! never saw anything in my life
look so queer. What eyes; what terrible
claws; what monstrous snout; it certainly
must be FANLANo, that eats women; let
us throw it back again into the sea, where
we found it,
The diver in the mean time stood upon
the bank, at the end of the line, with the
hook in his mouth, using every art that he
thought could excite pity, and particularly
lookingtender, usual in such circumstances.
The coquette, therefore, in some measure
influenced by the innocence Of his looks,
ventured to contradict her companion. up
on my word, sister, says she, Il see
nothing in the animal so very terrible as you
are pleased to apprehend f; think it may
serve very well for change. Always por-
poses and surgeons, and Holsters, and
crawlish, make me quite sick. / fancy a
slice Of this nicely grilled, and dressed up
with shrib sauce, would be very pretty ca
ting. fancy mamma would like bit with
pickle above all things in the world; and if
it should not sit easy on her stomach, it will
be time enough to discontinue it when found
disagreeable, you know
'Horrid, cries the prude, would the girl
be poisoned | tell you tits FANLANG, |
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