Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-10-18
EVENING STAR.
[FOR THE STAR.
o F-F ISH-A LII.
BY EN-oFFICI0.

I Tor sixty years beneath the hOmespun frock Of
! Deaoon -. The general confidence repOSed
IN his integrity was manifested in the various
offices CT trust he had been called upon to
| fill, not only in church aud town affairs, but
he had several times enjoyed all the " hoRors
! and emoluments' pertaining to various petty
positions which be had been permitted 10 oc-
! c1py through the favor of old Governor O..
L he Deacon was by no means regarded proul
man, but he seemed to be especially conscious
| of his /" gubernatorial'' benefits and was very
desirous TO, in some manner, express his al-
| probation OF the Governor kindness. He
| In fact, grew nervous year after year
slipped by without an available opportunity
presenting itself for accomplishing his wish in
this respect; for the Deacon was a man pos
sessed Of but moderate worldly endow-
| nentS, ;" and was well aware that unless his
testimonial should be in accordance with his
means, the Governor, who had very practical
notions of economy, would regard it rs inap-
prOpriate.
One fine morning in autumn as the Deacon
bad completed his category of domestic du-
ties, and was engaged in securing his winter
supply Of fish from the waters Of the Mcrri-
mack, on the borders Of which lay his farm
the trap was sprung, and he, at last, had
| caught his sunbeam, in the shape of the
| finest salmon that had for years been taken
from that beautiful river This FISH, rare, and
considered great luxury, was TO the Deacon
an undeniable god send and the first thou gbt
that popped into his sxulting Uranium was
that this should be the medium of acknowl sdg-
Iaent to the Governor
But little time was allowed to be lost In ap-
prising his wife Of his determination aud her
genial smile beamed an scquiesccent approval
of his happy thought.
As there had then been no railroads intro
duced into New England, the Deacon's mode
| OF procedure was plain. lie was TO be his
own . IN aster of transportation, and was to
devote his ''express" attention TO the matter
| His wife had the salmon carefully ensconSed
In napkin, then neatly deposited in a nice
bcx, while the Deacon was dusting and ar
| ranging his Sunday wardrobe, and John, their
eldest son, was endeavoring to illustrate the
" fitness of things" by adjusting jaded old
mare to dusty green wagon-whOss =. green
est days had long since passed away.
1t is now nearly noon, and the Deacon is off
- on the road 10 Boston, At two O'Clock
we find him bridging up at the " half way
house, IN the little village of --. Hav-
ing fastened his horse to the 4" tie-post," he
enters tho tavern to enjoy quiet pipe, and
perhaps to Hpipe his eye" While mciitating
upon his good luck, we soon discover him be-
coming communicative. He gives, first an
inward chuckle; then, the whole story of tie
capture and ultimate destination of his prize
TO three jolly listeners, whose highly colured
countenances and curved line of conduct ought
1 w LethC "SeSltb hiiA t1at Tue slBlIii lICN were
SO much enjoying was not the spirit of his re-
cITal, and that they were utterly incapable If
appreciating the " delcacyn and 4" beauty
of that service in which ne was engaged
In the meantime, ore of the company rose
from his chair, casting significant glance
around, and walked to the door Here's a
subject" be solilOquized, "a right good
chance for a joke On the old fellow - Having
that day bought a small, lank, honey pollock,
he raised il from the grass, where it had been
quietly TepOsing, went to the Deacon's wagon.
removed the salmon from the box and care
fully substituted his OWN Z" last run"
The Deaeon's pipe and story being con-
cluded. out be walked in all his blisSful uE-
consciousness, mounted his wagon, " bound
as be said, - straight for the Governors,
! salmon and ali
Upon reaching b., he drove directly to the
Governor 5 house, dismounted. asccnlei the
steps, rang the bell, and requested to be al
lowed u see Governor q. The Governor re
ccived lin (as all Governors dol with lis
- usual urbanity," and requested the Deacon
10 sit down. After disposing of the customary
preiiminalics, in such cases made and PRO-
vlded, tie Deacon spread Himself for set
speech, wherein he enumerated the various
| kindnesSes he had received at the hands Of the
! Governor, and the consciousness of his own
obligations; also Of his long desire to- in some
quiet, unOsteItatlous manner, make known his
appreciation. Il have for You, Governor"
, said the Deacon - the finest fish that has been
caught III our noble river for ten years; 4 have
! myself brought il tn you all the way from
fresh from the water, Governor, this very
! morning The Governor duly thanked him
for his unnecessary but very agreeable;
compliment, and ordered his servant 10 bring
the box from the wagon 1t was soon placed
before them and opened, when 10 in lieu of
the extraordinary salmon, which had beenrep-
resented az occupying that snug apartmAlt,
what should be unfOlded TO view but the
. lone, lorn" pollock.
" What" said the Governor, "dO you mean
to insult INC, sir ?" Then addressing his ser
want" Remove this thing Immediately -
| "Are you not aware, SIR turning TO the poor
| Deacon, " that the pollock is the meanes: fish
| in the sea 20
| The Deacon, whose eyes, upon first behold
ing the metamorphosis, had become distcnded
to such degree that they would have done
dumbfounded, Then quietly backed OUT,
| said not word, replaced the box in the wa
| gon. turned his horses head, and started FOR
| home.
When he again reached the halfway
! house." his sad and woful couutenance did
| like the horse " in history'') 20 tale unfold
| His listening friends, awaiting his return. were
ready TO receive Lin, and questioned him
earnestly as to his reception 10y the Governor
! tie endeavored 10 conceal his chsgrin and
/ modification, but was at length prevailed
/ upon to relate the particulars of his visit
| They all pronounced the story extraordinary,
wonderful; and the comm 'sseration apparent
! ly excited in the DeacOn's behalf seemed but
TO render him the more sore. While thus e--
gagged bemoaning his misfortune, repeated
was the movement towards the door, again
! was the box opened, when the pollock was re-
moved, and the salmon replaced.
/ Detected and knocked" as the Deacon en-.
! phatically expressed himself, off he started
: for home. The shades of evening had already
fallen and it was not until the sounding Of the
/ nine o'clock bell that the Deacon returned 20
his waiting spouse
"Sally Sally - said he, "look in that box
Why did you put in that - (herc the Deacon
hesitated, not having indulged in al express
sion of profanity since he had become IRE
generated" but swelling with rage the check
rein Of his patience gave way and out he
belched,) Id old poklock,'' ,4T-
What do You mean ~ shrieked poor Sally.
-, &c,