The Mississippi Creole. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1841-1851, 1847-02-27
a FISH STORY

cut, was chosen a member of the couneil.-
While attending to his duties in that capaci-
ty, he was frequently invited to dine with the
governor, who always treated him with much
hospitality and urbanity. AS some return
for the governors politeness, 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 subject but no sat-
~isfactory result was arrived at, until one day
early in the Spring it was announced in the
village that a fine salmon, the first Of The sea-
son was caught by the Dracut fishermen Here
wasa God-send for MI. B indeed!-the very
thing to present to the governor, and he lost
no time in securing it, never needing the enor-
nous price demanded by the captors. 1t was
a noble fish, a full "twenty pounder,'' and in
the language Of Mrs. 3. as she swathed it in
snow white linen, sit was the beatimust fish
you ever saw"
The salmon was carefully tied up IN a new
bag, the horse was harnessed 10 the wagon,
and the worthy councilman and the present
trotted briskly away down the Boston road.-
Now in those days ~tee-total societies were
unknown; consequently Mr.. B. was not a tee
%totaller; if he had been he never would have
stopped three times between sDracut and
Tewksbury, to "wood upn Nor when he
arrived at Tewksbury would he have tarried
at Wilder's Tavern where according to q
black sign with white lettes, ''Entertainment
for Man and Beast,' was always ready. We
will consider it decided then that he was not
a temperance man in the modern acceptation
+ Of the term and follow him into "Wild-
9 er's.;' Under the influence of the three cock
\ tails already taken he drove up to the door
/, Of that ancient hostelrie with a mighty clat-
ter, and throwing the reins to the hostler re-
k quested him to carefully guard the Wagon,
as there was precious freight in the box and
then walking into the house in a majestic man
! ner as became a member Of the council; was
soon deep in that forbidden luxury, flip. The
landlord grinned and bobbed hastily about,
. the hot poker Kissed and sputtered as it was
thrust into the roaming mug and Squire B., in
stalled into the best room and the best chail
quafFed largely of the generous beverage and
reflected npon the pleasant reception he should
meet at the governors.
: But, "the best laid scheme Of men and mice
aft gang astray.p While the worthy adviser
Of His Excellency was thus riOting in antici.
pationsiof the effects of his present, SOM evil
spirit flying over Tewksbury at the time seek
ing for aehance to do mischief cast its eyei
upon the hOstler and seeing at a glance that b,
Ia was a proper instrument wherewith 10 work
e. entered into his heart and instigated him to d
M that which was to make those anticipation
vain as an Idle dream, Prompted by curiosi
ty to see what the "precions freight" was AM
influenced BY the spirit aforesaid, the hostile
united the bag and drew out the scaly Occu
pant. Standing atthe door, sent there no doub
nd by some other evil spirit, was fish cart fror
.ge which the possessed hostler speedily procure
lot an enormous pollock, which he carefully tie
IN up in the bag and hid the salmon in the hay
- NOW.
ow Having finished his flip, Mr.. B. called f
to his horse, paid the reckoning and was soon ono
more en- route for Boston, The grey mare fe
her oats, the squire felt the flip and right gail
dy they sped along through the ancient towns
is Wilmington, Woburn and MedfoEd and in dp
ow time the wagon ratified merrilyover the paw
The ments Of Boston.
gu Gov, Gore was sitting down to dinner wht
ply the door-bell rang and . servant announ
ra- ed MI. B. Of Dracut, the governor repairing
the parIor found the worthy citizen dusty al
flushed his nose fairly shining with exciteme
and flip. With a low bow he advanced, seizi
Iue the Governors hand and commenced a 3
speech which he had been coming since J
wig left home.
= "May it please your excellency,' he sal
tits a duty incumbent upon all good citizens
remember those placed in authority over the
ms " Here he paused for he had lost t
threats and to-'' another pause; he h
evidently pitched his tune too highland
- Governor, ] am a man Of f
liOn words. bu. Il you'lE send yer hired man .
to my wagon you'll find that lied up in a b
to- as will speak louder than words and ma
me- you stare, | reckon, Il
the Governor Gore smiled, and ordered a q
want to carry the bag to the kitchen; and
pairing thither himself, found the servants ST
s ~ ing with wonder at q large, and by no mea
prepossessing pollock laid cut on the table
y. For a single moment the governor felt ind
nant; but recollesiing the character Of
donor he concluded that some one had play
ocb. MIN a trick and walking back to his visi
/, whom he found waiting with eager exPec
!, ton, remarked in q cool, Indifferent tones
aI am.much obliged, Mr.. B. for your b
intention, though your present is no great r