The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-24


cord, and perseverance manufactures fishing
rod, which he courteoiHly offers to Gail, which
Gail succinctly declines, informing him in no
ambiguous phrase tint she considers nothing
beneath the best as coed enough for her. Adri
anus is convinced by her logic, overpowered
by her rhetoric, and insekly yields up the best
rod, though the naturii man rebels. The bank
of the river is rocky, steep, shrubby, and diff
cult of ascent or descent. Adrianus bids Gail
tarry on the bridge, wa;le lie descends to recon
noitre. Gail is acquis cent, and leans over the
railing awaiting the result of investigation.
Adrianus picks his WY over the rocks, side
wise and zigzaggy along the bank, and down
the river, in search of Ash. Gail grows tired
of playing Casabisncae and steals behind the
bridge, and picks her gay over the rocks, side
wise and zigzaggy along the bank, and up the
river, in search of fun Practices irregular
cess for half an hour a so. Shout from the
bridge Gail looks 10. Toe far off to hear
the words. but sees Adn aus gesticulating furi-
ously, and evidently LIB ring under great ex.
element. Retrogrades 3 rapidly as circnm-
stances will permit. As1anus makes speak
ing-trumpet of his hands, and roars, "Pve
FOUND FISH Lsfr-him for--YoU-to
CATCH Come QUIcK.- and, plunging head
long down the bank, disappears. Gail is touch
ed to the heart by this ublime instance of self
denial and devotion, acc scrambles up to the
bridge, and plunges dow after him. Heel of
boot gets entangled in ess every third step
fshingline in tree-top svery second progress
consequently not so rapid as could be desired.
Reaches the water at last. Steps cautiously
from rock to rock to the middle of the stream
balances herself on Iel,ble just large enough
to plant both feet oni AID just firm enough to
make it worth while ID IN the risk-drops her
line into the spot desigsated--a quiet, black,
little pool in the rusbiig rlver-sees no fish,
but has faith in Adriane4.
{" Bite 2" asks Adr,s mis-, eagerly.
"Not yet" answers Gail, sweetly. Breathless
expectation. Lips compressed. Eyes fixed.
Five minutes gone.
"Bite ?" calls Adrianus, from down the
river.
"Not yet" says Gail hopefully.
GLOVER your Sne a little. I'll come in a
minute" Line is lowered. Arms begin to
ache. Rod suddenly bobs down. Snatch it
up. Only an old stie,,.. Splash it off con-
temptuously.
"Bite p" calls Adria..Is from afar.
"No," family respG DIS Marius, amid the
ruins of Carthage.
perhaps he will by :ad by" suggests Adri-
anus, encouragingly. --Five minutes more.
Arms breaking. Kn IS trembling. Pebble
shaky. Brain dizzy Everything seems to be
sailing down the streatss Tempted to give up,
but looks at the emp -basket, thinks of the
expectant party and - eight cod hsh, and
possesses her soul in pa.ience
"Bite?" comes the distant voice of Adri-
anus, disappearing by a bend in the river.
"No!" howls Gail, sying to stand on one
foot to rest the other, aud ending by standing
on neither; for the pebble quivers. conyalses,
and finally rolls over and expires: and only a
vigorous leap and sudden Conversion of the
fshing-rod into balaE ing pole save her from
an ignominious bath. .Weary of the world, and
lost to shame, she gataers all her remaining
strength, winds the line about the rod. noises il
on high-hurls it out into the deepest and
most unobstructed part oF the stream. climbs up
pugnis ct calculus on the back of an old bould-
err; coaxes, threatens, cejoes, and intimidates
her wet boots to come ef; dips her handker-
chief in the water, and stlds it on her head, to
keep from being sunstrsck; lies down on the
rock, pulls her hat over Der face, and dreams,
to the purling of the Rf, the singing of the
birds, and the music of the wind in the trees,
whether in the body c.nnot tell, or whether
out of the body l came, stell) of another river,
far, far away-broad, a6l deep, and sea-ward
rushing-now in shadoSs, now in shine-now
dashed by storm, now calm as a 5aby's sleep
bearing on Its vast bo-om a million crafts
whereof she sees only ne--a little pinnace,
frall yet buoyant-tossss hither and thither,
yet always keeping herSfrow to the waves
washed but not whelmed So small and slight
thing, will she not b5 borne down by the
merchant ships, the ocsiin steamers, the men
of war, that ride the sr4ves, reckless in their
pride of power? Hos will she escape the
sunken rocks, the treacherous quicksands, the
ravening whirlpools, the black and dark night ?
Lo! yonder, right across ger bows, comes one
one of the Sea-Kings, fir GIFTED with death for
tho frail little bark Woe! woe! for the
1.-The little bark Nay not death, but life.
The Sea- King marks path of the pinnace.
Not death, but life. Sss?nals flash back and
forth. She discerns the voice of the Master.
He too is steering seawasJ-not more bravely,
not more truly, but in asdirecter course. He
will pilot her past the BREAKERS and the quick
sands. he will bring her 20 the haven where she
would be. o brave little bark Is it Love that
watches at the masthead Is it Wisdom that
stands at the helm2 Is i Strength that curves
the swift keel pr
Hulloi how many?4
Gail starts up wildly, rd knocks her hat off
into the water. Jumps & Ter it, at the imminent
risk of going in herself; catches it by one of
the strings, and stares at Adrianus.
ASLEEP, l guess?" says Adrianus, inter
negatively.
II guess So" echoes Gail, dreamily.
How many fishes "kapersists Adrianus.
Fishes ?" says the erho.s
Yes, fshes,' repeats Adrianus, in a louder
tone.
Yes, it must have been the fishes" MUIR
niurs the echo.
L..
anus, with the voice of giant; show many
fishes have you caught Pr
"Oh yes" says Gail, waking up and has
tening to appease his wrath "eight-chieay
cod.'
Indignation chokes his speech. Meanwhile
Gail wakes up still farther, and, instead of
standing before him Ikea culprit, boards him
like avenging Fury, and upbraids him with
his deception and desertion. He attempts to
defend himself, but is overpowered. Conscious
guilt dyes his face, and remorse gnaws at the
roots of his tongue.
Sinful heart makes feeble hand"
They walk silently towards the woods. They
meet a small boy with tin pan and thirty-six
fishes in it. They accost him
Are these fishes for sale ?" asks Adrianus.
"Bet they be !" says small boy, with energy
Adrianus looks meaningly at Gail. Gail looks
meauingly at Adrianus and both look mean
ingly at their empty basket.
wont you tell?" says Adrianus.
"No, wont your" says Gail. Adrianus whis-
ties, the fishes are transferred from pan to bas-
Ike. and Adrianus and Gail walk away as
"chirp as a cricket" aAd "jolly" as "old
King Cole" They reach the sylvan party,
and are speedily surrounded.
a"Oh, what beauties Who caught them
How many are there?"
"Thirty-six says Adrianus, in lordly,
Thoroughbred way. 81 caught EN-"
"In tin pan" says Gail, disguised with his