Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-11-05
From the Flag of our Union.
Aunt Judy and the T0mcods.
A SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE.
BY JOSEPH w. NYE.

smile at the ABOVE title, ana tney VIII uSfee
with me while perusing this amusing but
true sketch, that the title is not altogether in
appropriate. can, think. confidently as
sure them that the said smile is but the pre-
cursor of as hearty a laugh as ever burst
buttons from waistcoat. That is, if it af-
fects them as il has me.
Why, the very thought Of old Aunt Judy's
adventure with the tomcods, almost prevents
me from writing legibly. My attention has
been more forcibly drawn'to this 'by. gone
incident by seeing it stated in the last num-
Der of Sillman's Journal, on the authority of
Prof. o. =. Hubbard, that fish taken in the
cold of winter from ponds or streams, and
thrown upon the ice and freezing quite hard
have been restored to their usual activity
when thrown again into cool water and been
permitted to thaw. An account is also CIV
en- of The resuscitaton of perch, after having
been frozen for nearly two hours.
Perhaps this may be new and unheard OF
before by many, but to me it is an 'old sto-
ry.' Why, SO long ago as when Twas amere
boy, many an evening have taken my axe
and line and gone upon the ice. which enca-
sod the beautiful river Merrimack, opposite
the lovely village of Salisbury Point, Mass,
and after cutting a hole through the ic e.,
which was oftentimes from twelve 10 sixteen
inches thick, have seated myself, with my
lantern by my side, dropped my hook, line
and sinker into the rolling blue beneath,
and fshed for the Gods. All, that was sport
for me, dear reader, can assure you. Be-
ing wrapped up warm, and getting usually
not only plenty of glorious nibbles,' but also
plenty of fish, joyfully passed many fios-
ty eve.
And now, as my mind reverts to the hap
py ewes so pleasantly spent, | sigh that they
have passed forever away. But such is lie,
our time is ever on the wing and bearing
us onward to tairer realm, where 'everlas-
ting spring abides, and all will live in an O.
ternal youth. We should sigh, not for the
return of the past, but improve the present,
and be prepared for the future, whatsoever
it may be.
But perceive that am sermonizing, and
therefore will return to nay story by saying
that in very few minutes after being laid
upon the ice, The fish would become frozen
stiflas icicles, and have by putting them
into water, often seen them open their peep
ers,' and 'wag their tails about
have told this to some people, who tho
it was rather though yarn (begging my
pardon at the same time, and me rather n
foolish man for thus trying to soap them. -
But although | am now backed up by Sill
mans Journal, hope they will no longer
think me silly man or that have told them
silly story
So much for the Tomcods and now for
our heroine, .4imt Judy. SO much of her as
| Gao distinctly remember, will attempt to
describe, that the reader may get, at least,
a faint idea of her. She had seen the SHOWS
OF about sixty winters. Her form, though
rather bent under the load of years, was a
bove the medium size and portly, well becom
ing matron. Her features were rather OF
the sharp order. She had very prominent
Roman nose, which often reminded me of
the figure head of man Of war. This was
surmounted by pair of spectaces, which |
have often thought were 'sported' more for
the sake of giving her ladyship a certain
dignifed appearance. than for any benefit to
her eyes BE that as it may, have noticed
that when the old lady wished to scrutinize
anything very closely and critically, her twin
king dark gray eyes could be seen peering
above them. She was by profession tailor
ess and mantuamaker. She had great run
of business, and considered herself second to
none in her profession. She was generally
very successful in giving her patrons good
fits, and we shall see before we close our sto-
ry, that she experienced a fit herself which
was not quite so good at least, to her. The
principal feature about her attire. when set
Ting out for days work, was a huge cloak,
with hood attachment tor the projection of
. l,. - h.. kt,r r,u
of strings, she could contract to as small n
compass as she pleased in order to protect
hor visage from the nclemency ofthe wealth
or. When she called on her way to see any
o; her friends for IA few moments, she would
throw back her helmet, reminding one of tur-
ming down an old fashioned fall-back chaise.
We'll do | recollect that old thick brown
cloak. lts cut had reference more to COM
fort than beauty, and hung upon her not un-
like a meal bag down over a post. A srran-
ger who might happen to meet her with her
visor closed, would be puzzled to know
what to take toll for Constantly hung by
her side were a formidable pair of scissors
and an enormous pinball These were spor-
ted with as much apparent pride and salts
faction as ever was sword by some hero of
many battles. She also wore pocket as is
pocket. 1t was decidedly large and deep.
have seen that same pocket, dear reader,
and you may rest assured that it was most
emphatically 'one of EN- never saw an
other such. Ii was general receptacle for
almost everything and anything which the
old lady might perchance bo possessor of;
broadcloth. cashmere, calico. snuff-box, and
we shall see presently. She prided her
self much on her professional skill, and who
ever was so daring as to express any objec-
tion to the set of a garment cut and fitted
by her, could not escape the angry flashes OF
her piercing eye. Her whole appearance at
such times very plainly indicated that she
considered her dignity highly insulted. and
the blow thus struck at her reputation she
was not slow resenling. She has been seen
on extra aggravatng occasions to raise her
most formidable weapon-the shears She
was at such times decidedly terrible more
so than IAN army with banners
The little girls and boys were always glad
when they could SEQ in the dim distance,
the stalwart form of Aunt Judy bearing down
towards them. II was then that they pre-.