The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-12-12

How Went Angling ana what was Caught
Il do wish, Bob, you would get married.
cried my mother, impatiently, one day after
she had endured my company whole long
summer morning.
The suggestion was by no means new one
for was five and thirty, and it had been itera-
ted and reiterated, by all my family ever since
was twenty five. I therefore regarded my
mothers remark, as the beginning of a kind of
family ritual, and responded as usual
"Why so, ma am?''
Because she answered shortly, deviating
somewhat from the beaten track, sits high
time.'' 9+ ~ .rr. -.s4 r5
Granted" said I. ..s 5...-...
EYES," pursued my mother, you're old
enough and you're rich enough, and you're
clever enough and why you don't get married
[ can't see You would be much happier than
you are idling about here, with nothing better
to do than to follow an old woman about from
cellar to pantry, putting your hands to every
bit of mischief which Satan sends for idle
hands to do'-and all for want of some sensi-
Bile employment. #-9-"
Would petting foolish wife be sensible
employment?'' asked laughing. -..s..
''She need not be foolish?"
'Dut lne WtSe VII SiH VIII mol nave HE, anu
will not have foolish one, and there is just
my trouble" z-a.s .-"
"You are too modest by half" returned my
mother, as she was leaving the room.
Ipondered that remark Of my mothers. |
thought it showed discernment and Judgment
and wondered more people were not of her way
of thinking. The melancholy general rehec
ton that modest worth is almost sure to be un-
derrated, threw me into a pensive and senti-
mental mood, and snatching up my hat and
fishing tackle, sauntered out for reverie un-
der cover of my favorite sport. 1.e- sa
The subject of my late conversation contln-
ued to occupy my thoughts. The truth is, my
mother was more anxious to see me married
than | was to be So | had always regarded
the married state as the happiest, my heart
| glowed as much as any mans ever did, at the
picture my fancy drew of loving family and
happy home. But the mischief of it was,
could not find any one to please me. did no
consider myself, nor mean to be, over fastidlous
but among all the fiat, luttering, furbelowee
fine ladies met in society, | found so little ma
ture, so little goodness so little heart, that
could not fall in love with them, let me try a
would. -..-
1t was true lamentable case. Here was
a really clever enough fellow-well to do in th
world-considered as l knew well enough
something of catch-wlling and anxious t.
be caught, and nobody sklful enough to do it
1t was almost a parallel case with that of tn
poor pig in the nursery rhymes, which RAJ
about the streets ready roasted, with a fork stuc
in his side, crying, who'll eat me?-Who
eat me?" ...-.-.-
Pondering this gloomy thought, wandere
on and on, quite beyond my usual bounds, an
at last, rather tired, clambered up steep roc
which overhung the brook had been followln
and sat down to rest
twas a true summer rscene-quiet and war;
and brght-nicelv shaded, however, where
lay, and the cool sound of the ripping wate
4 added just the only charm possible, where
was SO charming. ..
listened with delight, but in doing so b
came sensible that besides the regular monot'
nous babbling of the brooklet, there mingle
other sounds of FLASHING water, which occurre
at irregular intervals, and which seemed to pr
ceed from below the rock on which l reclne'
NV curiosity led me to explore the mystery.
, clambered quite to the top of the rock an
looked down over its furthest edge.
Cupid! god of love! how was l rewarded
The rock on the side over which [ looked d.
scended sheer some fifteen or twenty feet, ,whe
projecting ledge formed kind of natur
seat, below which the water rippled. The sp
was quite hung over and shaded by trees ar
thick shrubs 1t was complete sylvan grot
; and within it, as seemed most meet and tittln
was its nymph. ...s. ...... .... '.
A young girl, apparently about sixteen, S
t. on the rocky ledge bathing her feet Her at
+. tude and occupation reminded me strongly
the pretty picture we have all seen in old -tas
ioned ANIMALS of Dorothea-except that II
little beauty was evidently gay and fresh al
T. lively, while Dorothea in the picture is veal
At and sad.
l could not make up my mind for time
i disturb so charming a scene, and therefore CO..
s tinued to gaze in silence from my lurking plac
All! those dainty little white feet, with the
n pink tipped toes. which cleaned SO fair throuE
% the clear water-or flashed for a moment abo
its surface finging about the brigh glltter'l
y drops, and then pIungng ''galn beneath t, t.
e 6 cool blue,-never shall | forget them! II
= gracefully bent head with its bright golde
ID curs and brads. against which now and tn
the sun glinted from chink in the leafy scre'
y the lovely neck and arm-the cheek deiIca'
ly tinted with pink, of which now and thu
h caught glimpse, formed picture more e
5, chanting than anything had ever imagine
y More than all, the perfect innocence and mo
J. J. esty which accompanied all the movements
W this second Susanna, an unfortunate allusl'
by the way, but | scorn the idea that any o.
could connect me in thought with those rascal
peeping, sneaking elders, however as W
going to say, when interrupted myself tt
modesty of my sweet Diana charmed me eve
more than her beauty. z~ "
- Ny heart of ice suddenly burst into tlam
''Heavens!" cried I to myself, as feltit thum
ing against my side-"what is this new sens
S, ton? Bob B your hour is come You
in leye!" s... a. .rs...Z
At the moment came to this concluslon,t Il
float on my fishing line dropped at the feet
my charmer, and immediately-wel I'm
going to lay before my confidential public
i. account of all my delicate and skillful nance
vering enough, that within half an hour
,, was seated socially by my ater-falry's sid