The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-06-12

Dracut, was chosen amember of the Council.
While attending to his duties in that capaci-
", he was frequently invited TO dine with the
Governor, who always treated him with much
hospitality and and urbanity. As some re-
turn for the Governors politeness, MIR. Ii.
had long meditated making him present.
But what should it be? Governors are not
common men and no common present would
do. Many and long were the coniabs between
Mr.. and Mrs. B. on this important subject,
Blu, no satisfactory result was arrived at until
one day, early in the Spring, it was announc-
ed in the village that fine salmon. the first
of the season, had been caughtby the Dracut
fisherman. Here was God-send for Mr.. Il.
indeed the very thing to present to the
Governor, and he lost no time in securing
it,never needing the enormous price demand
ed by the captors. 1t was noble fish. full
twenty FOUNDER aud inthe language ofMrs
B. as she swathed it in snow-white linen, 1T
was the beautimest fish you ever saw
The Salmon was carefully tied up in new
bag the horse was harnessed in the wagon,
and the worthy councilman, with his present
trotted briskly away down the Boston road.
Now, in those DAYS tee-total societies we're
unknown, consequently Mr.. b. was not a
teetotailer,i If he had been he would not have
stopped three times between Dracut and
Tewksbury, TO wood up Nor when he ar
rived at Tewkshury, would have tarried at
'Wilder's tavern where, according TO black
sign with white letters, Entertainment for
Man and Beast was always ready. We will
consider it decided then, that he was not
temperance man in the modern acceptation
of the term, and follow him at once to Will
der's. Under the influence ofthree cock stalls
l., - l.. fl saG
ancient hostelrie with mighty clatter, and
throwing the reins to the ostler, requested
him to carefully guard the wagon, as there
was precious freight in the box, and then
walking into the house in majestic manner,
as become member of the council,-was
soon deep in that now forbidden luxury, flip.
The landlord grinned and bobbed hastily
about, The hot poker Kissed and sputtered as
it was thrust into the remaining mugs and
Squire B. installed into the best room and
the best chair, quaifed largely Ct the gener-
Gus beverage, and reflected upon the pleas
ant reception he should meet at the Govern
or's.
But, the best schemes of men and mice aft
gang astrav' While the worthy adviser OF
His Excellency was thus rioting in anticipa-
tons of The effect of his present, some evil
spirit ilyng over Tewksbury at the time,
seeking for a chance to do mischief, cast lis
ewes upon the ostler, and seeing at glance
he was a proper instrument wherewilh 10
work. entered into his heart, and instigated
him to do that which was TO make those an
ticipaticns vain an idle dream. Prompted
by curiosity to see what the precious freight
was, and influenced by the spirit aforesaid,the
osiler united the bag and drew out the scaly
occupant. Standing by the door, sent there
no doubt by some other evil spirit, was fish
cart, from which the possessed Ostler speedily
procured an enormous pollock, which he
carefully tied up in the bag, and hid the sal
mon in the hay NOV.
Having finished his flip Mr.. B. called for
his horse, paid the reckoning and was soon
once more en- rout for Boston. The grey
mare felt her oats, the Squire felt the flip,and
right gaily they sped along through the an
cient towns of Wilmington, Woburn and
AIedford, and in due time the wagon ratified
merrily over the pavemenis Of Boston.
Gov. Gore was sitting down to dinner, when
the door bell rang and a servant announced
Mr.. B. of Dracut, and the Governor repair
ing to the parlor, found the worthy citizen,
dusty and flushed, his nose fairly shining with
excitement and flip. With low bow he adj
vanced, seized the Governors hand .,and COM
menced set speech which he had been con-
ming since he left home.
May it please your Excellency,' he said,
it is duty encumbent upon all good citizens
10 remember those placed in authority over
them-'' Here he paused for he had
lost the thread, land to- another
pause, he had evidently piihed his tune too
highland to-. Governor, am man
of few words, but if you'll send your hired
man out to nv wagon you'll find that tied up
in "a bag, as will speak louder than words and
make yon stare l reckon
Gov. Gore smiled and ordered servant to
carry the bag TO the kitchen: and repairing
thither himself, found the servants staring
with wonder at large, and by no means pre-
posing pollock laid out on the table, For a
single moment the Governor felt indignant,
but recoilectir. the character of the donor, he
concluded that some one had played him a
trick, and walking back TO his visitor, whom
he found waiting with eager expectation, re-
marked in a cool Indifferent tone:
Il am much obliged, Mr. B. for your kind
intention, though your present is no great
rarity here In Boston: we can get the same
any day at the Fish Market for two cents a
pound
'Get 1t Tor TWO cents pound, at the Fish
Market roared the COMPOUNDED Coucilman,
'why Governor, there's not another salmon out
of the water, in New Euglandr
i was not speaking of salmon replied the
Governor in the same provokinely calm tone.
i merely intended to say that can get in the
market for that price, better and fresher
pollock than the one which you have brought
me-"
Pollock be darnedr screamed Mr.. B., dye
mean to say the fish brought You jest now
isaPollock 2
Walk this way Mr.. b. said the Governor
leading the way to the kitchen, and point
ing to the striped sides of the fish, is that q
salmont'
1T was when started this morning. said
MIR. B. in low reflective tone-'anG a fine
one too as ever swan the Merrimack. But,
he continued, turning it over, as if to be sure
there was no mistake, but tits pollock now
sure enough
The pride and spirit of the good old farmer
we're completely broken. He felt mortified
and ashamed, he could not bear to look the
Governor in the face, and steadfastly declined