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

no Simon.
With these words of encouragement,
[ was proceeding to leave the house by
the least frequented path, and, as [
hoped and trusted, unobseryed. But
no; mercy for this day, at all events,
had deserted me, for [ had hardly got
clear of the house before torrent Of
chaff and shouts of laughter, aimed at
me from an upper window, fell upon
my devoted head, much, I fear,-shall
[ confess it ITO Simon's secret amuse-
ment, which my evident chagrin only
increased.
Simon, Can't you find blind one
for the captain this morning -
C All, Harry, my boy, believe me, the
only way to learn to fish is to go out
without your breakfast, with the con-
sciousness Of the necessity of having to
fish for your dinner"
You had much better come back
and play bean-bags."
These were, the nice, kind, encourag-
ing remarks [ was doomed to listen to,
and bear with patience if possible. [
must confess, though, the latter obser-
vation almost persuaded me to return
uttered as it was by such dear, mus
ical little voice, by one had often and
often listened to with such rapture in
the soft August evenings, and by one
whose bean bags. somehow or other,
always seemed to fall softer and kind
lier on my robust person than those of
anybody else's ever did. But no; [
was not to be seduced from the path of
duty. To get fish that morning [ was
determined, or leave Glenmuir by the
afternoon coach,-this latter as kind
of compensation for the dying part of
my resolve.
! [ have said I chose the quietest route
from the house, for obvious reasons,
| but-it was also to me the most disa-
greeable path, and will tell you why
After clearing the grounds of Glen
muir one had about a mile of moor
land to traverse, when you struck upon
foot path leading you to and through
a fir wood overhanging the steep banks
which here lined the river; down to
road running parallel to the stream,
and at the side of which stood a kirk.
Now, if there is anythingin the world
calculated to depress my spirits and
give me the blues, it is the sight of the
majority of Scotch country kinks. As
the bells were to Mephistopheles, so
these barns G can call them nothing
else) were to me. This was an especi-
ally gloomy one. A square, low-roof
building, painted gray, with black
around each window to enliven it. The
yard (not tree of any sort in it, which
was full Of unshapely and severe-look-
ing tombstones, grisly emblems of the
severity and coldness of the occupants
faith, was ill-tended and neglected, the
paths unweeded, and the grass growing
anywhere and everywhere. Verify, the
! outward and visible signs of the creed
of the established kirk are not Of the
most joyous or cheerful description.
Now, this path [ always avoided on
account of its taking me past this fear
Unlocking object, and [ feel sure that
the depressed state of my feelings for
hours after using this route initiated
greatly against any small chance [ had
of ensnaring the fnny ones.
"Ah," said Simon, aye hae come
the richt gait tn morn-the lucky road
past the kirk. Yell be sure of fash
noo.n
"Why, Simon, you surely do not
suppose that my passing the kirk can
possibly have anything to do with fish
ing?"
"Ay, has it," was the superstitious
rejoinder. "Ye're sure to hae luck if
ye past that kirk jist ance i the morn
and, my certe here's better luck still
for see, the preeentor is iist coming out
O the door.
And, sure enough, there was the old,
bowed man, just locking up his charge,
and taking a casual look at the strang-
ers. A queer sort of unconsciously
humorous man was the precentOr.
For my sins, [ presume, [ once, two
or three years previously, went to the
morning service of this kirk, and it be-
ing a large parish, the list of candidates
for the bliss and pleasures of matri-
molly was unusually large The poor
old precentor had, by some means or
other, contrived to jumble up all the
names Of tie aspirants for connubial
joys, and was totally unable to unravel
them from the utter confusion his care
lessness had brought them into-lucky
for many of them, dare say, if he had
there left them. The old man, however
hit upon an ingenious device. After
carefully arranging his spectacles, and
with a preparatory blow of the nose,
he proceeded to read out all the names
of the sterner sex. There was Adam
this, and Joke that, and SO on. He
then read out all the lassies' names,-
Agnes this, and Jennie that, until he
had read every name on the list. Then
emphaticically closing the book, he
said: 81 dinna ken What's going to
marry wha, but I hae nae doubt ilka
lad kens his ain LASS" and, taking of
his spectacles, appeared totally uncon-
scious of the preparation of d joke
But here we are at the end of the
wood. The stream has rushed down in
glorious confusion among the rocks,
and over the rough bed Of the river,
which lies under the fir wood, and at
the bottom of the last and steepest fall
!; lies the neck of the Ladies pool. This
now takes its course for about three
hundred yards through low moorland,
destitute of tree or shrub. There oc-
CURED a break here in the steep and
woody banks, characteristic of the
river.
Ay, but the pool is iist in grand
order, and [ think we'll jist try the
auld butcher on the day." said Simon
with cast line in his mouth.
Accordingly, with the greatest care
) the butcher was made fast, the tackle
Well overhauled, Simon's practical eye
IN moment detecting any weak por
tlon OF 1t, and, all being ready, [ pro
ceeded to make my first cast right al
the head of the pool, Simon standing,
III anxious attitude little behind me,
2 gall III hand, evidently prepared fol
anything thatmight happen and, after
| the various eccentricities he had wit
messed on my part, well he might be-
Another cast, little lower down. All,
yes what was that Oh, only huge
fish tumbllng about playing at the fly,
without the slightest intention of being
taken IN by its gaudy appearance.
8 See yon stane ~ said Simon. "Jist
3 cast your fly behind that. I hae seer
l mony fash taken frae that vera bit. ,