The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-19
AFIsH STORY.
By JESSE CLEMENT.

In an article recently published on
olden times in New England, we
spoke OF salmon and other respecta'
Bile fish once taken in abundance 10 the
Merrimac river. While writing that
article, which referred mainly to Ha-
verhill, reliable fish story was recall
ed, but as the scene was laid in Dracut
We concluded to reserve the story for
separate article.
About sixty years ago, when Christie
pher Gore was Governor of Massachu.
setts, he had a favorite councilman, Mr.
B, who lived in Dracut. Their at
tachment for each other was very
great, like that Of David and Jonathan
farther back in history. Dracut-tht
part of it where Mr.. B. lived-wat
twenty-seven miles from Boston, where
bis Excelleucy lived; and whether
Gov. Gore ever visited the seat" OF his
rural councilman the short and simple
annals of Dracut do not say. But it is
we'll known that Mr.. B-dined with
the Governor. So often did he share
the exalted hospitalitles that at length
be began to be ashamed OF himself
for not, in some way, reclprocating
such favors, or at least show bic ap'
probation of them. He made the sub
iect a matter of study, and it took hin
long time to decide. At length "tht
whirliglg OF time" brought around thu
exact moment.
Spring had come, and the lamprey
cells, slewives, shad, and salmon, or
their way up the Merrimac to spawn
had reached the loot OF Pswtucke
Falls, and the first salmon was caught
1t was a noble ish. would turn tht
scales at 20 pounds, and was worth q
DER pound in Boston Mr.. B.
bought the fish and started to presen
it TO the Governor. 1t was a cool day
for the last halt Of spring, and MIR
B had to halt often TO warm up
Warming up" in those dave, mean
warming down, and rum was the mos
efficient agent. Mr.. B tried tint
experiment two or three times beior'
reaching the tavern in Billerica. There
while adding little more interna
fuel, he revealed the precious content
oil the neat. new bag in his wagon
just then a fishmonger drove up, will
a great variety OF the finny tribe. In
hostler, a genuine wag, purchased
| huge pollock, very inferior fish, wort
only two or three cents a pound, an
nut it in the place OF the salmon, hid
ing the latter in the barn. Suspectin
nothing, happy in the thought Of max
ing the Governor happy, Mr.. B
made good time through Wo6urG
Medford and Charleston. and, with hi
head barely steady enough to "keep t
the right in a single line while the draw
was up" he passed over the Charlie
River and made directly for the Gov
ernor's mansion. After leaving tn
old stand; and it was old before he sa'
it in lS23-aided by his four or fiv
glasses OF rum, he composed a it'll
speech; but he was so thoroughly ID
bricsted internally that most OF tn
g. eech slipped cut before he had time
deliver it. He broke down in the 81
tempt and did little more than intimst
what was in the bag "out in the WACO
The servant took the bag int
the kitchen and opene
Il The Governor too
his fayorite Councilman back to see tn
fish. One look sufficed. Mr.. b
caught up the pollock, thurst it angrIl
into the bag, and, without waiting
comply with the Governors invitatlo
to stop for diuner-then piping hot On
lust going on the tsble-he took tn
back track for Drscut. Stopping 8
the Billerica Tavern for his stomach
sake" while there the salmon wer
back to the bag and the police
dropped out of history. keachin
home, Mr.. B., with a somewh'
thickened tongue, told the story OF tn
salmon 8 metsmorphosis to his gent
spouse, who would not, she said, Of
lieve a word OF it. Then" said h
"Tn convince you" His head WI
now far from level; his fingers did NJ
exhibit any nimbleness; ye
aided by a few oaths, he
length united the bag, when o,
cape the original, identical, yellowlsl
red gentleman The amazement
Mrs, B. was immense; the exul
ing laugh OF Mrs. B. was On toweIir
octave, and changed his amazeme'
into wrath. He caught the tongs, III
a yard long, seized the innocent fis
thrust it over the foresticks. and
among the Invest coals, and, punchll
; it with all his might, exclaimed, "pur
I fish you are, aren't you 2 Purity fist
e How does that feel under your rib
2 2 longs and toe-nails-you shall hs
r both giving the salmon kick), Pur