Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-06-16
Tbe Uermont 4banit.
For The Termont PhGnir.
A FISHING EXCURSION.

In ANTICIPATION IL appears charming vision OF
rural felicity and it casts its shadows long after
upon the cheek, memento of many a wonderful
venary or piscatory adventure. 1t kindles even
the infrmities of age with the fervor of another
youth. Tired with such ideas, on a fine May
morning short time since, we set out for the
head waters of the Deerheld. We were not
long awaiting our first adventure. Soon after
we entered the cars who should come in and
sit down beside friend Lex but a monstrous
daughter of Erin, (his eldest probably,) and
held above him prodigious epitome of human
ity bound up in a pinafore and illustrated by
squalls. He shut his eyes-thinking probably
of friends and home, of the joys of matrimonial
felicity, opened them again, took one last, long,
lingering look, (oh the intensity of that look,)
and boted Arrah Be Jabers greeted him
the language of some celebrity, Socrates proba-
bly,, so voice of woman, whether thou comest
fire-winged with passion, or clad in sghs that
burn but do not kill, or robed in those wild
notes which only the agonizing treble of hu
manity's incipient germs can awaken, thou art
the only music in nature which can move the
iccles of mans being, tinge it with JOY and del
fly his dreams"
We proceed without further disaster to the
Green Mountains and set out North. Pausing
for a night at length among the hills, we takea
morning ride to the scene of our sports. 1t
alone is worth our journey. The pure air of
which draught sis worth fagon of old Eng
lish Ale" stimulates and invigorates you.-
Nothing can exceed the beauty of the scenery
robed in the first verdure of spring. The fir
stands in dark green contrast with the western
blue, proud to have retained its deep coloring
through the wintry snows,-though maple and
beech hang out banners as if to celebrate the
death of winter-the dewy spring flowers smile
upon you, and mingle their aroma on the winds
the mountain stream with its white eddics
and crystal cascades sings merrily by you-the
river mists slowly rise into silvery halos about
the mountain tops that seem to look down upon
you with complaisant dignity,-and finally the
morning covers all in golden sheen more
beautiful than the robes of kings.
We at length reach the borders in Somerset.
Leaving our horse in the hospitable charge of
Mr. Curtis, we lade our satchel from his pantry
and, joined by the Ancient and his son who
kindly goes to assist us, we proceed with pilot
who leads us with elastic step and unerring eye
dssp n9 ths jntsfa mateS Sf i tie t9gest We
! lilies from Rhode Island had settled seventy
years ago, passing the fertile valleys Of the
Connecticut TO penetrate this wilderness. 1t
contains two hundred acres of beautifully smooth
rolling land, with plenty of grass, yet where the
worm dieth not las our bait boxes will testify J
and so far from civilization that the rental shows
but five cents an acre. As we move on, into
the forest again, we meet another thrilling incl
dent-a wonderful escape from a bear We
find where the pilot says bear had been since
the rain. Had we only been there at the time
and the bear been ferocious, had II been a bear
and we unable to escape, no one knows the fear
ful consequences P9dagogus with white lips
makes an ''item." the Ancient cries out "ahem'
and we take up our line of march. At length,
having travelled for miles in the dense thicket
padagogus thinks us lost and looks upon the
pilot as a Mr. Buchanan who, as is said, has
aptly demonstrated by his guidance of the Shr
oil State, that he truly "Knows no North, nc
South no East, no West" nor any other point
of compass. Here two old hunters used tc
amuse themselves by destroying hocks of wilt
geese shooting their ramrods at them, they
) flew over in the form of harrow, stringin,
them on the two by their right feet till tn,
worms of the rods hooked together in the bill
of the foremost one often getting a hundred a
a shot, at least so said one of the COMPANY
Bh we gladly hear in the distance the Gasten
bury Branch and soon forgetting all wearines
l. enter with great Zest upon the sports OF th
day. Here plenty of game fit through tn
"chaos of green leaves" and myriads of trou
I greet your coming. What glorious fun Wha
place, too, for musing Honest John our poe
puts in--we know by the workings of his fac
that he is dreaming away-probably picturin
his future home with its Gothic windows, it
frescoed ceilings, its ivy vines covering its sides
its messy retreats, its gardens and fountain
) hidden amid the trees, its shady walks and belt
ing elms, and watching through the vine ella
window -panes the moon rise plating with Ion
train of light some distant rver-but hold!
trout has his hook and is off like lightning-hi
vision vanishes-he pulls and is proudly maste
of his first fish, Such is trouting. We fs
the rest of the day and at its close partake {
the kind hospitality of Father Cobb. To hir
f and his estimable lady much indebted
to We were struck with the character of the pee
pie staid, hardy, plain, but well informed The
e. possess sturdy common sense unknown to tn
h, masses of the city. The mind of the city
theoretical, of the country practical, the one o
- ten corrupt and venal, the other always homes
the bulwark of the republican State.
l. Here is splendid field for the naturalist an
>. especially the mineralogist. In western Wint
w ham have been found lead, silver, copper, iro
and gold.
,, >. We pause long to revel in the pure air
or enjoy this taste of frontier life, and can hard
refrain in the depths of the forest from campr
out, sleeping covered only by the
- "Paace roof of cloudless nights
Paradise Of golden lights
Presence chamber, temple, home,
Ever canopying dome
Of acts and ages yet to come"
- u, AT length with safety of fish, (six hundre
~i ry and ten caught in twelve hours) we start f
n home To rest the horse two drive ahead ar
hitch while the others come up and taking Il
horse come on. At such stopping the forwal
=, two shoulder the fish and start ahead Hone
e- John and Padagogus come up and the wild CT
ut "the fish are stolen," rings out upon the air.
rs, Pndagogus cnsconces himself in the bushes
Al. wotcl, tho conIurt Of tho ppnnla in tho No