The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-08-14
FISHING ON WHITE RIVER.

3l FISHING ON WHITE RIVER.
Last summer, or rather last spring, Will
stopping in Indiana, formed one of part
that went to the falls of White River, nea
the village of Newberry, for the purpose o
having a regular set, two or three days fish
ing spree, as the Hoosiers call it. The frs
day of our excursion turned out to be windy
and We had no luck; the next day we caugh
only small bass, a little swapping turtle,
cold. On the third day the tables turned
and fortune smiedupon us propitionsly, fol
We all had fresh colds, Jack Collins fel
overheard and We caught him. Bill Martine
caught the ague, and Tom Bourbone caught
catfish that weighed some seventy-fvt
pounds. .,. aE .. .... -. .
Our Spree was now at an end, and We
found a matter of lcttle difficulty to take
home with US all we had caught except the
big fish. 1t was too large carry, and too small
to justify the hire of special conveyance, SO
we were sorely puzzled as to what disposition
to make of it. At last happy thought
came to our relief. Joe, the auctioneer,
formed one of our company, and SO We
resolved to 60 up to Newberry and sell the
monster at auction 1t was just about the
first of the season, and so We expected to
realize a handsome profit by way of fun to
say the least.
When We arrived at the village, we found
about thirty persons assembled around a
little grocery. Chuckling over such streak
of good luck, Joe shouldcred the fish, mount
et upon the head of a molasses hogshead
and proceeded to his businss.
'Aow, gentlemen said he show much do
you say to start him? Do | hear fifty
cents? F-i-f-t-y-c- e-n-t-s! Do | hear q
bid from any one of fifty cents?
But they did not say, and poor Joe cried
and went on ut an awful rate without the
least prospect of a bid.
Seeing that our chance of speculation
was but slim, we concluded to anuse our
selves by bidding for fun.
'Five dollars to start him. said |.
Give dollars-fve-fve- five, and agoing
as cheap as dirt; who says more?'
'Ten dollars,' says another Of our CON-
pany.
Fifteen
And SO the bids ran on till they reached
thirty dollars-all sham, of course.
just at this moment a tall, gawkv- looking
Hoosier was seen making rapid strides to-
ward the scene of action. Having arrived
and looked at the fish on all sides. and list
ened to 'thirty and going,' he bawled out:
Il say stranger-you on that 'ar barrel
kin do better than that myself. Jest hold
on a mirit and let me have another squint
at I'm. By ginger? just say fifty and resk
him.
sFifty! fftv!' cried the auctioneer, aston
ished at the bid; NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
at fifty
The fish was handed over to the Hoosier,
who after looking at old Joe moment, and
smelling to see that his prize was not SPOIL
ed. began to walk off with it.
Stop, old fellow! you hav'nt paid for it!'
cried several.
paid, ginger.' replied the green one.
coming to halt. Warn't the fish gin to
me? Didn't hear you all guessin' thirty,
and didn't guess Gfty!-and III bet coon
skin he don't weigh any more; and didn't
that old pussy feller that's up thar give it to
me?'
'No, mop exclaimed old Joe, while we
were all holding our sides, you bid fifty
dollars for the fish and you have it to pay'
After a sour look, and frown that was
intended to tell how indignant he felt, the
Hoosier replied:
'if yer lngin enough to take thing back
arter oivin' il 10 ii a,'-", take it, and suit
the auctioneer with all 'fTs Strength.
Our corpulent friend, having no desire to
come in contact with a flying fish, leaped as
high as he could, and when be came down,
the hogshead top gave way beneath his
weight, and in the next instant he was
houndering about, up to his chin in moass-
eS.
'Te, he: he!' roared the Hoosier, as he
made tracks of in the way he had come
'Te, he, he. mor ger in a street picklen
And so he was. With much difficulty we
succeeded in eztricating him, after which
we paid the damage, and started in search
of water, resolving never again, under any
circumstances. to set up II iSh market at
Newberry Spirit efthe Times.
PURITAN LAWS.
How unjust, uncharitable, rot to say RI
diculous and akominable appear TO US many
of the laws made and enforced by our
worthy forefahers. The veriest stickler
for conservatism would hardly pronounce
them just Or sensible in the light Of our day
and generation. Yet who can say that
viewed through the retrospect of couple of
! CCHtuiiSS oui Jaws duu CuSloH1s uue
many of them appear equally absurd, equal
ly at variance with the spirit of shat Lord
whom they are made to honor. The adver-
saries of progress to-day, however, may be
as honest in thir views as our great grand
fathers in legislation like this:
/ 'Whoever shall profane the Lords day by
doing unnecessary wo.k, by unnecessary
travelling or by sports and recreations, he
or they who so transgress, shall forfeit for.
ty shilings, be publicly whipped; but il
it shall appear to have been done presump.
tuously. such persons shall be put to death
or otherwise severely punished at the discre'
ton of the cowt.' ~-
NO one shall run on the Sabbath day OF
walk in his garden, or elsewhere, excep
reverentIy to and from meeting.
tNo one shall travel, cook victuals, mak'
beds, sweep houses, cut hair or shave on th
Sabbath day.
'No woman shall kiss her child on the Sab
bath or fasting day.
'lf any man shall kiss his wife or wife he
husband on tn. Lords day, the party il
fault shall be punished at the discretion o
the magistrate.
ffS" The Louisville Courier perpetrate
pungent take-off on the custom of givin
receptions to returning Members Of Con
gress. 1t says when Humphrey Marsha