The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-07
. Catching a Ground-HOg

urday last to fish for trout, They were
joined there by Ed. Quick and Bub Wells,
two professional rod swingers. On Mon
day they started for Dingman township to
cast the fly On the way Taylor tried his
$25 revolver on every chipmunk he saw
Pretty soon Cahill shouted
"Blazes see that ground hog. Let him
have it, Taylor !'
"He's beauty" said Wells, and Quick
cried, "Sweet Christmas, but amt he
fat p"
The animal was jogging along leisurely
across field. Taylor acted upon Cahil's
suggestion and got out of the wagon to
shoot at it. In his hurry he forgot to put
down his fish pole and carried it in his
hand. In his other hand was the revolver,
ready cooked. He gave chase to the
ground hog. His companions sat watching
him from the wagon, waiting to see him
kill the animal. 1t was pretty one, all
over black and white spots. Taylor was
bound to have its hide. When he got with
in shooting distance, he stepped in bog
hole, and down he went. His fish pole ran
about foot in the ground and broke off,
His pistol went off and blew the whole
roof out of brand new straw hat he had
purchased for the occasion.
He was soon on his feet again, but the
groung hog had got clear to the other side
of the field and sat by the side of hole,
evidently waiting for the anxious sports
man. Taylor caught up to within a few
feet Of his game and raised up to fire.
The ground hog suddenly turned his
white tail toward Taylor, and disappeared
in its hole. Taylor that instant knew he
hadn't brought enough Florida water with
him from the city. He knew he hadn't
struck a mint patch, nor yet bed of
roses. He felt that it wasn't good to be
there, and he wanted to go home. In
short, it came across him by degrees that
the boys had played a skunk off on him
for ground hog. He returned to the
wagon, and remarking that the ground
hog was too quick for him, got in. Ed.
Cahill put his handkerchief to his nose.-
Ed. Quick said he guessed he'd get out
and walk way. Bub Wells thought he
would too. Cahill said he promised to
bring his wife some elecampane root, and
as that was good place to find it, he'd
get out and look for some. Taylor wouldn't
ride alone, and made up his mind to walk
with the rest. Cahill couldn't find any
elecampane root, and got back in the wag-
on. Quick and Wells got tired, and jump
ed in again. Taylor then thought he
would ride while. The boys began to
think the joke was as much on them as it
was on Taylor
When they got TO the creek Taylor OBJ
jected to going in the woods for fear he
might get lost. Cahill told him to keep
half a mile TO the windward of them, and
they'd be sure to know where to find him.
Taylor flshed at Spring Brook. The trout
wouldn't bite. They came to the surface
and looked at his fly but as soon as they
got their noses out of the water they dove
down and rubbed them in the gravel
Taylor got disguised, and went to find his
comrades. He came up to them near
Mother Jagger's, where they stopped for
dinner Cahill took Taylor aside and
said
"Say, Taylor, we want to get something
to eat here. You mustn't go in with us or
you'll kin the whole thing. Wen eat first !;
then you come in. SeeP"
Taylor was hungry, but had to submit.
Mother Jaeger got the boys up nice din
ner. They ate it at their leisure. Taylor
sat on a log about hundred yards from
the house and whistled Bury me under
the Violets The boys finished their meal
and went out. They told Taylor to get
his dinner. He entered Mother Jaggers
kitchen, and sat down to the table. The
old lady began to sniff, and, kicking the
old hound that lay by the stove, ejacu-
lated
"Git out Ring. I'll kill thet internal
critter yit. He's alters huntin' slxunks 20
"Ring, get out" Mrs. Jaeger poured
Taylor's coffee. Then she shifted again,
and looked under the table and on the
floor. Taylor fell to eating Mother Jag
ger took down her horn spectacles and put
them ON. She shifted and looked earnestly
at Taylor. Then she squeezed her nose
together with her fingers and said
"Dod rot be, bister Of it amt you. Jist
help yourself; help yourself to eddything
you want"
And Mrs. Jaeger sought the outside Of
the house.
The party fished all day. They got back