Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-05-22
MY FIRST SALMON.

Never heard now i killed my ufSG
salmon? Well, come sit down beside
me under the old chestnut, and hear
the thrilling story. All !! how the dear
old memories come over mel Shall [
ever forget that eventful day2
I remember that for some days pre-
viously I had been fearfuily chatfed
about my apparent want Of success in
the gentle art,-an empty creel being
the absurd and unjust criterion by
which [ was judged.-chaffed most I'M
mercifully by those charming girls stay
ing at Glenmuir; chaffed and thorough
ly well "bean-bagged. But stay.
Perhaps you do not know the delights
OF -bagging, what bean-bags are,
or how bean-bags are played? F? No !!
Then [ VIII tell you; and if you get
nothing else from the perusal of the
story [ am about to relate, you will
thank me to the last hour of your exist
ence for initiating you into the mystery
of bean-bags'
All that Is necessary is canvas, mus
lin, or linen bag, about four inches
square, containing beans OF split peas.
That is ALL But the use ofthem ? All
therein lies bliss untold. The game is
played by two people,-one, of course,
being of the gentler sex,-youth and
beauty indispensable. The old and
ugly, as in good many other games
wot of, are completely out of it. In
fact, have often heard the latter aver
they never could see any fun in beam
bags but, Irepeat, in a country house,
on wet day, or With nothing else to
do to take a bean-bag in each hand,
stand opposite your antagonist,-the
young and fair,-at about ten PAGES
distance, prepared for action, is mo-
ment worth living for Your enemy
commences by throwing the bag held
in her right hand at you, which you are
to catch in your left, at the same time
throwing your right-hand bag at her !;
then you must quickly pass the one
caught from left to right, and throw 1t.
The game thus proceeds, and, as each
player is in possession of two bags, a
keen look out for squalls is necessary.
I need hardly say that, after about three
minutes serious play, the whole thing
ends in regular romp the fair one
having perhaps failed to catch a bag,
sends them all at your head anyhow
You reGaliate the best way you can, con-
sistent with mercy, and a general en-
gagement follows. Again [ repeat,
bean-bags is great fun. Try it, and
you will concur in my opinion, and
bless me for putting you up to so good
thing. Pardon the DEPRESSION, but ]
could not resist it. The memory OF the
dear old game, especially with one GER
tain-ah, well, never mind
Well, as I said, [ had been greatly
chaffed by every one at the house. and
[ had determined on this particular
morning to do or die, my resolve to do
being considerably stronger then my
desire for death in case of failure. ]
mast candidly confess, however, that ]
never was a great success in the art o1
| old Izaak Walton. Old Izaak did love
the surroundings. I loved the sport
immensely, it is true but [ loved it.
not so much for what [ could or die
catch, but for its necessary and attend
ant surroundings. To me, in those
| dear romantic days, it was indeed bliss
to stroll along the banks or up the cen
tire of some lovely, rapid trout stream
with a pipe in my mouth, enjoying
thoroughly the beauties of nature, the
glorious sensations of youth and perfec
health; occasionally sitting down an(
dreaming dreams, -ah, such dreams !
and nursing and indulging in sucE
delusive hopes and thoughts, which
never could possibly, by the most mir
aculous combination of circumstances
be realized except in-dreams. AL
this, under the soothing influence O
the blending of the sweet music Of TIN
waters of the running clear stream
with the cooing of the doves, and tn
wild and clear notes of the nightingale
made me realize that Il have beer
blessed.
Sleeping dreams, they say. are unac
couutable; and we certainly do see il
our nightly and sleeping visions, Will
wandering through unknown and pei
haps impossible worlds, a strang
! heterogeneous mass of unheard o
things; but believe that we, one ant
all, have indulged in dreams of a ia
wilder and more impossible nature thai
gentle sleep would ever introduce int
our imaginative brain.
Halo another depression. 1 reall
must get on, or you will begin to wonde
if this fish " was ever caught at all.
The day was one [ had been longin
for in vain for soue time cloudy, wit
no great heat in the air, and deliciou
breeze that would beautifully rippl
the waters of the Ladies pool" tn
scene of my intended operations. NJ
faithful gilie Simon had been dul
warned to be in attendance at 10 pre-
clsely; and, as the clock struck tha
hour, [ was greeted by his old honest
though whisky-dTinking face, with til
following remark:
" Are yer for the pool tn morn, sir
For, If sac, we maun at once, as ther