The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-08-03
THE DAILY DISPATCH,
TIE FOOLS OF FHLLHNDnnN.
A COLD WATER STORY,

TEE FOOLS OF ELLENDEEN.
COLD WATER STORY.
Joel Jerdan was a thriving ietu;l hos;er. in
close street al the eastern end of the yaat me.
uopoils. He had snug little shop, and a
nice, snug little wife, together with an annual
" increasing nice little family; and Joel him
saiI, II we except one weakness, was the most
diligent and steady little fellow to be found
within the circuit where the musical bells Of
Bow are heard. Small in person. pleasing in
exterior, and scrupulously neat in his attire,
Joel Jerdan was always considered peculiar.
~ dapper, civil, smart tradesman. His father
had pursued the same business in the house;
and though there were not large profits, there
was certainly contenimeni, which Joel very
wisely judged was far better. Itdid not require
any vivid stretch of Imagination to form COM
pnrison between the venerable Izaak Walton,
Of piscatoTial celebrity, and our hosier; for.
like that immortal angler, Joel was devoted TO
his calling and usually confined to precincts
of no large dimensions, but making his escape
whenever he could to enjoy the sole recreation
OF his existence-that recreation being the sport
with which lzaak's name is ever associated.
Joel Jordan was a worthy disciple of this
renowned Piscator-at least, he would have
been had he strictly followed that masters in
junciions; but if truth must be all confessed,
the one weakness already alluded to in our
little hosier, consisted of indulgence beyond
the bounds of strict sobrieiy, when any pro-
longed or favorable "sport" more than usually
elated his spirits. On such occasions, Patty.
his faithful wife, of course lectured the recreant
hosier most severely; while he, shocked and
humbled, meekly promised "never to do so
any more," and kept his word until betrayed
into temptation again. Being water-drinker
at home, from motives of prudence, not to say
necessity, it did not require much in the way
Of stmulous to render poor little Joel addle
headed. Whenever he could spare an hour or
two on the long summer evenings, after the
business of the day was pretty we'll over, leay-
ing the shop to Patty's care, away sailed Joel
to the docks, there to watch his float and for
get his cares, until nights sombre shadows
warned him that all sober citizens were reti-
ring bedward. 1t was only at rare intervals
that Joel enjoyed whole days fishing; for, in
the frsi place, he could not absent himselffrom
pressing daily duties, and, in the second, he
had no friend resident in the country with
in easy access, to whom he could resort for an
introduction to babbing streams and fowery
meads. He had toiled early and late, as his
excellent father had done before him; and when
Patty's brother retired from official life The
was nobleman's butler,) and become proprie-
tor of a small public house about fifty miles
from London, situated on the banks of river
much res0rted to by anglers, and sent hearty
invitation TO Joel to come and visit him, what
words may paint the bright anticipatons of
the exuting hosier? He had not been we'll of
late-needed summer holidays; and, in short
Joel could not resist the tempting offer.
Patty urged her husband with af1ectionate
solicitude, to keep watch over himself; but
she loved him too well, and was too unselfsh,
to object to his accepting her brothers hospi
tality "Make hay while sun shines, my DEAR"
she said 'you may never have such another
opportunity. Business is slack just now-be-
sides, baby is weaned, and can mind the shop
with Charlie; only" here there was private
whispered admonition. the tenor Of which may
be inferred from Joers answer, accompanied
by a hearty kiss: IL promise you, my ducky,
that l will never taste drop, except when
get wet footed. and then only just enough to
keep the cold out"
"Ah, that cold, Joel ," replied Patty, otis
queer thing, that cold is! always trying to
gain footing, and nothing but sip of brandy
to keep it out!" And the wife shook her
head.
II was too much felicity for Joel Jerdan!-
the gathering together his scanty assortment
Of rods and tackle-lhe laying out his hard.
earned money to purchase more-tbe packing
his portmanteau and setting out on a gay sum-
mer's morning!
Yet his dreams fell short Of reality when
Joel FIRST beheId the paradise Of greenerie
wherein "The Swan, nestled On the pictu>
rescue beauties of Wood End. Here he could
fish off the bank from variegated hower-gar.
den, whose roses hung over the broad, deep
waters, where monsters Of the 6nny tribes
abounded. Here he did fish off the emerald
bank; but, alas. the fish were strangely shy or
cunning. Joel labored most assiduously; but
somehow, he caught nothing. There was al
hs.r Oil hot
or the water was too clear, or the fish wouldn't
take the particular bait at that particular
spot, and they must be sought up or down
stream for miles. And SO Joel followed the
rivers course patiently, day by day striving
most manfuliy TO ensnare the wary inhabitants
Of The treacher0us element, on whose tranquil
bosom wan lilies reposed as peacefully as
primroses on the hillside graves reflected nigh.
"Try the pools of Ellendeen," said one; and
"Try the pools of Ellendeen," said another, un-
til Joel detelmin he toouid try these far-iain>
ed still waters, though it was good way up
stream TO reach them. However, farmer of
fered TO give him lift in his cart, and drop
him ON the road to market, leaving Joel to
work his way back to Wood End as might suit
his sport or inclination; and well supplied with
refreshing viands, slowed away in his basket,
slung across his shoulder spOrtsman-liAe with
lealhcrn belt, Joel set forth TO try bis luck 10
the 'bottomless pitt for so the deepest pool OF
Ellendeen was significantly named by the pea>
sant>folk, with whom the domain bounding the
water was in ll>repute.
Solemn and stately were the neighboring
woods, and gray castelated mansion frown.
ed on the summit ofa high hill oyerhanging
the water. 1t was unnhabited now, the fam>
lily were extinct, and, of course, there was
legend attached.
A former lord of Ellendeen was most anxious
for son and heir bu, on his unhappy lady
presenting him with nothing hut daug ghieTs, he
swore that on the birth OF ihe next he would
throw it into the pool beside the wood. He
did so with his own wicked hands more than
once; and lraditioni said that no les2 than
four baLy daughters Of the ancient rae Of FL.
lendeen were enguifed in those deep. dismal
waters, which refused TO yieli thsir dead, and
ever, whether it was that they were lett very
much 10 themselves, OF that the fish in Ellen,
deem Pools were really finer than elsewhere,
report had not exaggerated their abundance
and s;za. and Ioel 10 his infinite satisfaction,