The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-11-07
We Went a-FisSing, s,i,.

we went 0.ktNOiuSs
A jovial squad, consisting of DAVID
okrr, T 0 LITTLE, JoEL I. Jupkrss
and the writer, started about the middle |
OF last m'mihfof, Ashiug excursiop to
the waters of Middle Island Greek, West
Va. We ssse. alF fallAof Spirits, mot
Spirits Of Democracy. or ardent spirits,
but gleeful animal spirits,
We were we'll equipped with hooks,
including wire leader. pike hooks, lines,
lrods ipe,s sha fishing iogsers. In An
tioch We took in good dinner and DR..
ScHooLEr at the Amos House At Trail
Run we engaged in the minnow business,
capturing and depqsting in ,halfl . bar
rel Of water five or ak hundred fine
ones. Then away again, up the -hilk-
along the ridge, and down the hill to the
old Tuel Ferry where we crossed the
river. From Sistersville we started out
: mud road, which ia the West Virginia
tongue is called q ..'pike .riiga,rjl
ID After folio wing this pike mile and a
half, for the small sum of eight cents,
We turaed OFF to the right, heading for
SWANS. Night overlook US two, miles
short Of our destination, and part of our
force, organizing themselves into an en-
gineering corps, undertook to guide the
expedition. With the usual success OF
amateurs we got astray, and came t9i q
dead halt where the country appeared to
be all roads, ,sor no road, we didn't know
(which. While discussing the situation
friendly voice called to, US from q dozen
rods away. N,s.f ,5ai.e es-@so
''Where do you wantto GOT"
t1aaTo SWANS" s.- sdf - asf'
: eeTarn Turn 70 the left, aud come up the
lane.g )r,is s.3sgsrs.4s ~, sr
We followed the directions, and in q
few minutes crossed the creek, and pulled
up in SWANS min yard. A prospecting
party soon returned from the house with
the word that it was "all right" and we
qusrtered for the campaign upon. as
pleasant and hospitable'a family as can
be found in any State. =
Our inquiries as to the chances for
success in fishing resulted in cooling ouI
ardora little. The creek was too low, il
was too clear, and the water was toe
dead. '7'aE. ''''.@'T s'f g saf 'ha
T Nevertheless sunrise next morning
found all our rodslreaching over the wa.
ter trying t6ciuresa pike That was the
ibig thing No one OF the party had
ever enjoyed the ecstasy Of playing $
Ipike at the end OF Q rod. ,r,-d ~ sgs
Breakfast came, add was, the, first bite
of the tiav .-4-z--T-5ss e lts's e.
/ The edge OF expectation gradually
wore off as hour after hour sped away,
and from one to another pa ssed, in sub
dued tones. the saadest words of fisher.
men, "I am afraid IL is a failare." We
set our poles and went to fixing up con
venieuces IN the way Of seats, from the
slaves which werelodged on every stone.
We were int0rmei that some dealer hafl
thrown $4,000 Of these stavcs in the
creek, intending 10 catch them in a
aboom, near the mouth OF the creek
but the water fell suddenly. aud stranded
them.si Here they we're scattered 70,
thirty miles. Would he ever get tn,
half Of them, or fourth or -
..There's . bite :. and jumped to my
feet, and walked rapidly toward q pole
weighted With q dat rock. I took the
pole up cautiously, held il qlie,ly to OBJ
1serye the motions Of the object at ths
other end Of the line, and satisfying my.
sell, that It was ahooked," began gent
Ily to lift it. Tnere was weight there
but il yielded unresistingly. l watched
eagerly for the tirst glimpse of my cap
Tive, and in q moment w,aown through
six feet OF clear water, the long green
back Of ssa4, 49,. ,is
"a, pike! A pike!s iszss no
L "A N 49,. l.<tI An ---.