The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-04-20
From, the Portland Transcript.
A FISH STORY:


SHOWING HOW CIRCUMSTANCES ALTER CASES.
Many years ago when Gov Gore sat in the
Executive chair Of Massachusetts, Mr.. B., SUBJ
stantal farmer in the good old town of Dracut,
was chosen member Of the council. While at
tending to his duties in that capacity, he was fire.
quently invited to dine with the Governor, who
always treated him with much hospitality and ur-
banty. As some return for the Governors po-
likeness, Mr.. B. had long meditated making him
a present. But what should it be Governors
are not common men, and no common present
would answer. Many and long were the confabs
between Mr.. and Mrs. B. on this important sub
ect, but no satisfactory result was arrived at un
til one day, early in the spring. it was announced
in the village that fine salmon, the first Of the
season, had been caught by the Dracut fisher
men. Here was God-send for Mr.. B. indeed |!
the very thing to present to the Governor; and
he lost no time in securing it never needing the
enormous price demanded by the captors. It was
| noble fish, full "twenty- FOUNDER" and in the
| language of Mrs. B., as she swathed it in snow
white linen, Yin was the beatumest fish you ever
saw"
The salmon was carefully tied up in new
bag the horse was harnessed to the wagon, and
the worthy councilman and his present trotted
briskly away down the Boston road. Now, in
those DAYS tee-total societies were unknown, con-
sequently Mr.. B. was not teetotallar; if he had
been, he never would have stopped three times
between Dracut and Tewkshury, to " wood up
Nor when he arrived at Tewksbury, would he
have tarried at Widers Tavern" where, ac-
cording to black sign with white letters, " En-
tertainment for Man and Beast" was always rea-
| dy. We will consider it decided then, that he
was not q temperance man in the modern accepta-
ton of the term, and follow him at once to Will
der's;" under the influence of the three cocktails
already taken, he drove up to the door of that an
cent hostelrie with mighty clatter, and throwing
the reins to the hostler, requested him carefully to
guard the wagon, there was precious freight in
the box, and then walking into the house in a ma
lestic manner, as became a member of the cOun-
Gil, was soon deep in that now forbidden luxury,
flip. The landlord grinned and hobbed hastily
about, the hot poker Kissed and sputtered as it
was thrust into the Dreaming mug" and Squire
B., installed into the best room and the best chair,
quaEed largely of the generous beverage, and re-
Elected upon the pleasant recepton'he should meet
at the Governors. ~ ,sl ,
But :" the best laid schemes of men and mice
aft gang astray." While the worthy adviser of
His Excellency was thus rioting in anticipations
Of the effect of his present, some evil epirit flying
over Tewksbury at the time, seeking for chance
to do mischief cast its eyes upon the hostler, and
seeing at glance that he was proper instru-
ment wherewith to work, entered into his heart
and instigated him to do that which was to make
| those anticipations vain as an idle dream Prompt
ed by curiosity to see what the "precous freight
was, 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 evil spirit, was fish cart from
which the possessed hosler speedily procured an
enormous Pollock, which he carefully tied up in
the bag, and hid the Salmon in the hay-mow.
Having finished his flip, Mr.. b. called for his
horse, paid the reckoning, and was soon once
more en- route for Boston. The grey mare felt
her oats, the Squire felt the flip, and right gaily
they sped along through the ancient towns of
wilmington, Woburn, and Medford, and in due
time the wagon ratified merrily over the pave
ments Of Boston. t
Gov. Gore was sitting down to dinner, when
the door-bell rang, and servant announced Mr..
B. Of Dracut, and the Governor repairing to the
parlor, found that worthy citizen, dutsy and
flushed, his nose fairly shining with excitement
and flip. With low bow he advanced, seized
the Governors hand, and commenced a set speech
which he had been coming since he left home.
.May il please your Excellency," he said, 1T
is duty incumbent upon all good citizens to re-
member those placed in authority over them.
" Here he paused, for he had lost the
thread and 10 -" another pause, ne had
evidently pitched his tune too high. and to -:
4 ~ . If IN wordG. but AZ You'll