Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-05-21
From the Portland Transcript.
A FISH STORY.

A FISH STORY.
SHOWING HOW MATERIALLY CIRCUMSTANCES
ALTER CASES.
Many years ago when Gov. Gore sat in
the Executive chair Of Massachusetts, Mr.
B., substantial farmer in the good old
town of Dracut, was chosen a member of
the council. While attending to his duties
IN that capacity, he was frequently invited
to dine with the Governor, who always
treated him with much hospitality and ur-
banIty. As some return for the Govern
or's politeness, Mr.. B. had long meditated
making him present. But what should
1t beg Governors are not common men,
and no common present would answer
Many and long were the consultations be-
tween Mr.. ana Mrs. B. on this important
subject, but no satisfactory result was ar
rived at until one day, early IN the Spring
1t was announced in the village that fine
salmon, the first of the season, had been
caught by the Dracut fishermen. Here
was god -send for Mr. B. indeed-the We
ry thing to present to the Governor, and
he los: no time in securing it. never heed
ing the enormous price demanded by the
captors. 1t was noble fish, full ''twen-
ty FOUNDER" and in the language Of Mrs.
b., as she swathed it in snow white linen,
1t was the beautisumest fish Won ever saw
Ihe salmon was carefully tied I'D in
bag, The horse was harnessed to the wagon.
and the worthy Councilman with his nre-
sent trotted briskly away down the Boston
road. Now in those days tee total socie-
ties were unknown, consequently Mr.. B.
stopped three times between Dracut and
Tewksbury to ''wood up.' Nor when he
arrived at Tewksbury, would he have tar
ried at ''Wilder's Tavern" where accord
ing to black sign with white letters,
Entertainment for Man and Beast" was
always ready. We will consider it deci-
ded then, that he was not a temperance
man in the modern acceptaiion of the term,
and follow him at once to ''Wilder's. 80
Under the Influence of the three cocktails
already taken he drove up TO the door of
the ancient hostelrie with a mighty clatter,
and throwing the reins to the hostier, re-
quested him to carefully guard the wagon,
as there was precious freight in the box,
and then walking into the house in ma
Council, was soon deep in that now for
b dden luxury, flip. The landlord grinned
and bobbed hastily about, the hot poker
Kissed and sputtered as it was thrust into
the ''steaming mugs" and Squire B., in
stalled into the best room and the best chair,
quaffed largely of the generous beverage
and reflected upon the pleasant reception
ne should meet at the Governors.
But ''the best laid schemes of men and
mice oft gang aigly.'" While the worthy
adviser of His Excellency was thus rioting
in anticipation Of the effect of his present.
some evil spirit flying over Tewksbury at
the time, seeking for chance to do mis-
chief, cast its eyes upon the hostler, and
seeing at glance that he was proper in
strument wherewith to work, entered his
heart. and instigated him to do that which
was to make those anticipatons vain as
an idle dream. Prompted by curiosity to
see what the ''precious freight was. and
and influenced by the spirit aforesaid, the
hostler united the bag and drew out the
scaly occupant. Standing at the door, sent
there no doubt by some other evil spirit,
was fish cart, from which the possessed
hostler speedily procured an enormous poll
lock, which he carefully tiedu in the bag,
and hid the salmon in the hay-ulow
Having finished his flip, Mr.. B. called
foe his horse, paid the reckoning, and was
soon once more ca roate for Boston. The
grey mare felt her oats, the Squire felt
the flip, and right gaiy they 81 ed along
through the ancient towns of Wilmington,
Woburn and Medford, and ia due time the
wagon ratified merrily over the pavements
OF Boston.
Gov. Gore was sitting down to dinner,
when the door bell rang and servant au-
nounced Mr.. B. of Dracut. aud the Govern
or repairing to the parlor, found that wor-
thy citizen, dusty and flushed, his nose
:alrly shining with excitement and iip.-
With a low bow he advanced, seized the
Governors hand and commenced a set
speech which he had been coming since
he left home.
MAY it please your excellency.7 he
said, ait is duty incumbent upon all good
citizens 10 remember those placed IN aQ-
thorIty over them Here he paused.
for he had lost the thread-'.and To-
another pause, he had evidently pitched his
tune too Highland to-Governo.,
am man OF few words but il you'll send
your hired man out to my wagon, you'll
find that tied up in 4 bag, as viii speak
louder than words and make you stare,
reckon
Gov. Gore smiled. and ordered servant
to carry the bag to the kitchen; and re-
pairing thither himself, found the servants
staring with wonder al a large and by 10
means progressing pollock laid on the
table, For single moment the GoveFnor
felt indignant, but recollecting the charac