Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-09-23
For the Journal.
GANDER HALL, (Quondam.)

September 18th, 1858.
Mr.. EDITOR AS your paper comes very nlgh
as the Spirit of the Tines send you, for pub
LEGATION the following incidents of life On the Sound,
at Gander Hall, Masonborough, and whereabouts:
Aunt Mimy Dodd has little dog; his name is
Trip-a very familiar and common name to call lit
tie dogs by Trip was fond of following Aunt Mi
my's old man-Uncle Lige-to the Banks when MI.
Dodd went over in his sail-boat TO fish.
1t is nice place to fish over against the aforesaid
Hail. on the shelving sandy, shelly beach: that runs
out with so gentle slope, under the green grace
full waves that come in, with white breaker tops,
ever and anon, from the Atlantic.
And sweet too, by the way, is the sound OF the
swelling surf Cor used 10 be.) rs it falls on the ear
of the Halls inmates, when. in the night time, all
is hushed and still but itself
And sweet again, sir, it is. to 60 fishing with MT
Elijah Dodd, and catch surfdrum. right from under
the breakers, with the above named white tops on
them. Trip thought So or suppose he would have
staid behind. I don't know why dogs Tin other
things sagacous) should not like to hear the earth
shaking, believing surf roar; yes, and like 10 see
the pillows break at their little dogships feet, too
as we'll as white folks. But, of this, let Ralph Wal
do and other trascendental and idealists judge and
decide. Let's to the story
The drum hook of the venerable Mr.. Dodd was
bated and thrown out the hand line coiled up and
left on the dry sea-weed close to the edge of the
water and very near the spot where Trip refined
fast asleep. Instead of drum, however. stray
porpose-and very large one-some how toos
fancy to the bait the drum hook, and seizng 1t
and feeling the hook, put Oft straight to sea, at
rate of travel which no playground locomotive,
sent ahead by steam knows anything about and,
unfortunately for Trip, of the reduplicatons OF
the drum line as ii whized off from the coil, passed
over the poor fellows neck, and lightning in an in
stant away flew Trip through the surf, now under
water and now seen above it, like wisp or shadow
of something with dogswhite tail at the extremi-
ty of it, wriggling and twisting round, in the ex-
tremitY of hOrrid fright
When CATER this Incredibly rapid keelhauling,)
however, Trip had been hurried into the very jaws
of the breakers, some sudden reaction of the
reversed the turn of the line around his neck and,
being released he was seen, to the delight OF his
master, on his bilowy return-swimming as few
small dogs ever have been known to do He reach
ed the shore-took no notice OF Uncle Lige, who
called and snapped his fingers to him in vain; but,
the tide being now out, put off through the marsh
and shallow water alternately. with the same dog
electro speed of fright, up to the house, and by the
house, and into the woods, and through the Savan-
nah, and right into the head of Beezlys mill pond IN
the very heart of the thickest bamboo brieriest
place, and the worst for varmints known in these
parts.
There Trip remained for days, under the effects
of his great terror until almost starved, he ventur-
ed up to the draw bars, the house but alas
by the bars, standing with his delighted wlte-Je-
mimah-her husband Eijah-stOod, with a pair
Of leadin lines in his hand in coil somewhat re-
sembiing the drum-Iine and just Trip was about
to fawn caressingly upon his dear reoiced mistress
and lick her hand he happened to cast his eyes up
on the leadingli lines in Uncle Lge's hand, and, poor
as he was, and weak as he was, and hungry he
was, and tired he was of the said brier patch at
the head Of the pond, he wheeled about with half
yelp and half whine of utter alarm. and returned
straight to his covert leaving the old folks under
the full belief that the dog was mad
Trip again soon reached home, however, and as
long as the leading lines were out of the way,
manned quietly enough but Aunt Mimy says: to
the day of that dogs death, she believes if he was
to live hundred years, she has nothing else to do,
when he plaques her and she wants to get him out
of the way, but jest to take them there leadin'
lines Of the old mans, and hold 'em Up, and make
at Trip, and shake 'em at him, and he is rite off and
into that same thick, at the head of the pond. and
there he'll stay until night, the longest day that
er This is fact, MIR. Editor, as sure as you
are born. Yours SC.
:'. HAWKEYE.