Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-08-15
The Fishing Party.

Thomas, who had determined to turn
the water from their dam at Thomas
Bridge, distant eight miles down
Beaver Creek, hack load Of Bristol
gentleme left town at nine o'clock
sharp, last Tuesday morning for the
piscatorial basin.
The day promised to be beautiful, |
but the promise was only half kept. !
Capt. Lewis Seine was secured and |
Pat Ryan and Luttrell sprang into the
hack with it, determined to have fish
or find every snag in Thomas Mill
Pond. Tie whip was cracked and !
away went about as hopeful and |
boyant party US ever turned its back
on Bristol.
The Editors Of the Nc1CS, and the
Courier, NJ. l.. BlackIey and w. ID. !
McCroskey of the Bristol bar, and
Judge Bushong of the Sullivan county
Bench, together with Rev. G. A. Cald-
well, and Jno. Caldwell who had gone
ahead by private conveyance, compos-
ed the party. The load was heavy,
the road rough and high twelve and
the fishermen ran all even race for the
mill-dam. Luttrell said he "couldr't
swim dam Bit so Pat had TO draw
the heavy end of the seine aud "do'
the hallUai:ig for the crowd, while
LIttrell did the cursing, and the
Judge walked the bank at the head
of the corps of observation to
note the arrival Of the empty seine,
for the luck was about as light as the
party, not counting the Judge, who
with significant motion of the head
remarked in an undcrtore that every
one in life made mistakes at some
period of their existence, and it was
becoming his conviction that tive had
made one to-day" The two lawyers
brought their pants outside of their
boots and worked with will the
Editors aud the Parson walked about
as far from the scene of trouble as Pc
ter did from the Roman guard, and
the Judge found convenient willow
with cool spring gurgliug between
its roots, and there he rested his head,
watching the chariot of his fancy rs
it made its graceful gyratiOns toward
cloud-laud. Pat announced a "whop-
per-" for he 'feIt it strike" the par
con held him pole and tie heavy
laden net was landed, and the scram-
bic for the fish brought up the edito-
rial straglers in time to hear Luttrell
eXclaim that il was "only dam tur-
kle"
When dinner had come and the
party sat down to the hOspitable tables
of Messrs. Jacob and Marshall Thorn
as they had over score of suckers,
but the Judge was missing. He was
aftel ward discovered at the residence
of Mr.. Glover in consultation with
Capt. Denny. They were drinking to
each others health over the result of
the election, using therefor the nectar
that come from the root of that will
low.
An hour of heavy rain gave time
for reflection, but the Judge insisted
that the expedition was the mistake
of the period. Again the waters were
troubled, but it was no pool of Sloan
to his bruised heart. The long edy Of
mud and water was again dragged and
the party had doubled its quantity of
fish aud was soon rolling its increased
burden towards town. Evidently the
roads had gotten sleeper from the
rain and the Judge declared it expe-
dent that some of the party should
get out and walk the nearer way
through the fields. He would lead the
way himself, for he could walk. Pat
and Luttrell took the hint and boun-
ded out, and the Judge, with the ut
most complacency, crossed his legs
upon the seat and declared he could
ride as far as the others could. The
fact is without him the expedition
would have been failure with him,
and enlivoned by the sly humor of the
parson, Qf the proper authorities will
give him the merited ID. D., the title
of parson shall be discontinued), it
was n success.
The Messrs. Thomas have the best
farm the writer has seen in Sullivan,
and the excursion for the fifty suckers
will cause the memory of each one of
the aforesaid Bristol party to recur
with pleasure for many a year to the
green meadows and heavy laden or
chards that environ the dam turkle's'
retreat, and the spring where the
Judge leaned his head beneath the
willow.
-NaLllinn nnl...n A :. H. -. II -