Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-02-06
FISHING ON WHITE RIVER
OR, ACHING "INGlN" WITH HIM.
ny HAzEL GREEN, EsQ.


LAST summer, or rather last Spring, while
stopping in Indiana | formed one Of company
that went to the falls of White River, near the
village of Newberry, for the purpose of having
regular set, two or three days fishing spree,
as the Iloosiers call it. The first day OF our ex
cursion turned out to be windy, and we had no
luc. the next day we caught only one small
bass, little swapping turtle, few frogs-iust
for the fun Of it-and bad cold. On the third
day the tables turned, and fortune smiled upon
US propilously, for all caught fresh colds Jake
Collins fell overheard and we caught him. Bill
Marling caught the ague and Tom Burbon caught
a catfish that weighed some seventy pounds
Our "sprce" was now at an end and we found
it a matter of little difficulty to take home with
us all that we had caught except the big fish,
1t was too large to carry, and too sml 10 Justify
the hire of special conveyance, SO we were
sorely puzzled as to what disposition We should
make Of IT. AT last happy though came to our
relief. Joe the auctioneer, formed one Of our
company, and so we resolved 10 90 up to New
berry and sell the monster at Auction. 1t was
Just about the first OF the fishing season, and so
we expected to realize a handsome profit, by
way OF fun, at least
When we arrived at the village, we found
about thirty persons assembled around little
grocery. Chucklng over such streak OF good
luck Joe shouldered the fish, mounted upon the
head of molasses hogshead, and proceeded to
business.
"Now, gentlemen" said he, chow much do
yoti say to start him Do hear fifty cents =
+ fifty Gents do hear fifty cents =?
But they did not say, and poor Joe cried and
went on at an awful rate without the least pros
pect of bid. Seeing that our chance of spec
ulaiion was but slim, we concluded to amuse
ourselves 10y bidding for fun.
Five dollars TO start him, said |.
Five dollars-hve-Gve and agoing as cheap
as dirt; who says more =
Ten" says another Of our company
Fifteen !"
And so the bids ran on till they reached thr-
" dolars-all sham, Of course.
Just at that moment a tall, gawky-looking
lioosicr was seen making rapid strides towards
the scene of action Having arrived and look
ed the fish on all sides, and listened TO thirty,
and going" he bawled out
81 say stranger-you on that ,ar barrel-l kin
do better than that myself Jes, hold on min
ute, and let me hev nuther squint at i'm. BY
goy jest say fifty, and resk it p
Fifty fifty" cried the auctioneer, astonish-
ed al the bid; fifty -going-going-gon at
fifty"
The fish was handed over 10 the Hoosier, who
| al Olu OOc iliOihSuli ahu
to see that his prize was not spoiled, began to
walk off with it,
stop old fellow you have not paid ior i. !"
cried several.
"PaiJ, darnation !" replied the green one,
coming to halt. "Warn't the fish gin TO me
Didn't lhear you all guessn thirty and didn't
| guess fifty and I'll bet coon-skin he don't
weigh emmy more and didn't that old puss-bel-
lied feIlsr up thar Civ it to me ~
"No, no.' exclaimed old Joe, while we were
all holding our sides, 'you bid fifty dollars for
the fish, and you've got it to pay
After sour look, and frown that was in
tended to tell how indignant he felt, the Hoosiel
replied:
"lf yer lngn enough TO take thing back ar
ter gvin' it 10 frller, take it " and suiting the
action to the word he threw it at the auctioneel
with all his strength. Our corpuent friend hav-
ina no desire to come in contact with flying
fish, leaped as high as he could and when 1t
came down, the hogshead top gave way beneath
his weight, and in the next instant, he wa:
1oundering about up TO his chin in molasses.
"Te he he p roared the Hoosier, as he made
tracks off in the way he had come. "Te, he, he
now yer in sweet pickle '
And so he was. With much difficulty we sue
ceeded in extricaung him, after which we paid
the damage, and started in search of water, re
solving never again, under any circumstances
to set up fsh-narke, at Newberry
Spirit fthe Times.