New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-02-15
A FISH STORY.

1t was balmy morning when Mr. Hart.
ley was aroused by old Pierre, and, hast
lily swallowing a cup of coffee, he Shout
4dered his gun, and finding Florat below
with basket of provisions, set forth on
his errand Of destruction. Florat was a
lively fellow, active as a monkey and full
of mischief. At about one-fourth of a
mile from the sugarhouse was the begin
ming of the bayou, which terminated in
the lake. This bayou supplied the water
which was used in the boilers and about
the building generally. At its commence
ment it was wide, clear and deep. A skiff
had been placed in the bayou for fishing
in the lake. 1t had now been pushed up
to the bank. Florat leaped in and ar
ranged old Pierre's jacket in the stern for
Mr.. Hartley, who entered, Pierre then
showed of, and adjusting the Seats Sc
lected pair of oars and began to pull
Hartley remarked that he seemed to scan
the provisions closely.
'What are you looking after, Pierre?"
he asked.
''Why, you see, sab, answered he,
looking very grave; whenever l comes
dis way likes to fetch long drop of
sperits; it keeps off de tluvia Of de swamp,
and fellow he is heap more lucky
when he is got it long with him"
Hartley burst into loud laugh at the
philosophy Of Pierre.
'How do you account for that, Pierre?"
'Donno, sab; only you see dis fishing
Is O raal scientific tech; YOU has to give
your hand kind of temblin' motion, Jest
to make de fish tink de ting is live; for
you see de fish heap raider hab de fun of
KILN his victuals dan to find it dead. He
is just like folks bout dat, for you see, sab,
dars a natural instinct in a man what |
makes him love to kill. d"
swell, you are about half right, Pierre,
and ! suppose you have not had your
morning dram YETI"
= "Ha, ha, hav' laughed he. well,
Nassa Hartley you is de best guesser is
OF two and III make dis old skitf 60 salne
like steamboat Lord sab, when has
got some good old rye in me, is horse
Tank you very kindly, sab" he continued,
smacking his lips with peculiar govt, as he
allowed the liquor to slowly trickle down
his throat. II wish l could have dat feel
ing foreber. Lord, sab, de preacher says
dat dis whisky was vented by de devil
but it's my 'pinion dat isde pure juice Of
Pardice."
Float grinned with delight as he list
ened to Pierre. They proceeded down
the bayou, under the sturdy strokes of the
oar, enlivened an0 spiced by the odd say
ings of Pierre and the screams of FIorat,
as he struck at some unlucky young ALI
gator, which, swimming along, showed
itself near the boat, or, as he stabbed in
the water desperately at grapergow, as it
lay listlessly before the bow.
The banks of the bayou were Of soft
mold, and were clothed to the bluff edge
with weeds, bright wild flowers and NUT
ton cane. Everything was quiet, save the
trill of the mocking- bird, the wild carol
Of the black bird, or the melodious MARBLE
of the goldfncb, as he poised himself on
the topmost twig of tree near by. Then
there was the hum of the bee, the whirl of
the mosquito hawk, and mayhap the leap
of the fish in the sluggish stream ahead,
or the scream of a crane as it flew off and
threw out its urgaialy neck and legs, or
the dash of dozen turtles, as they splashed
from rotten log into the water
dat is very curious insect sab, ex-
claimed Pierre, pausing moment in his
labor and widing the perspiration from
his brow, on which it stood in great beads
''What, Pierre?"
"Why, dem cooters, dey is fulfllin' de
Scripture, sah."
'.How is that 2"
"Why, sab, dey is always watching;
and dey is as hard to catch mapping as a
hard-shell Baptist
"Ha, ha, ha - shouted Florat.
De cooter 10 de boatman,
De jay bird de lawyer,
De mOcking bird de preacher,
De alligator, sawyer.
Ha ha hsh whoop pc
: "Ww-wh-what you for making all
1t fuss for, you black rascal, !" exclaimed
Pierre, turning and making backhanded
i'll at him, while he lodged the blow and |
psang back laughing IL
: Swiftly they gided on. Suddenly Pisse