Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-03-16

OSel StOHc Wall ~ i1lc SLUG VI inc fO3Qs
There was thick growth Of bushes along
the edge Of the stream, SO that I had to
walk some distance before 1 found an
opening where could get close to the
water. Everything was SO still that felt
rather nervous and almost expected to
see fierce bull rush out upon me from
somewhere. Orickcts were chipping, and
different kinds Of insects were buzzing
and humming. No other sound. But
bark! What was that! A splash in the
brook.
A bull.frog, thought I. looked in to
see if could discover him. There he
was in the bottom of the shallow brook.
No, on closer inspection that was not
bull.frog. 1t couldn't be = fish, for
fish swim around, and this little dark
thing, whatever it was, was lying quite
still on the bottom.
Just then, while was wandering what
it was, grassl,opper, which had jumped
by mistake into the middle of the the
brook, went kicking long on the top of the
water. In an instant there was = CLEAN
just where the grasshopper was swimming,
and before you could say Jack ROBIN.
SON. the grasshopper was gone. Twas no
longer in doubt about the queer thing at
the bottom Of the brook. 1t had disap.
peared. I knew it must be q trout.
"Ah!' said Ito myself, ''I'll catch you,
Mr.. Trout! Then won't the folks in town
be surprised, and won't they want to
know where I caught him.
1actually believe thought more at that
moment of what the people would say
than did of catching the trout. was
quite excited. l tremblcd all over. I
captured grasshopper, and my hand
shook while | was putting it on my little
hook. got behind bush and very
carefully lowered my line until the bait
touched the surface of the water.
l was terribly excited, as much so as if
the brook was big cannon and the mo.
ment the bait touched it there would be a
tremendous explosion. There was an ex.
plosion, but of different sort. A plunge,
a splash. and I gave jerk stong enough
to tear the bottom Of the brook right
out.
went heels over head backwards on
the grass, and on scrambling to my feet,
looked eagerly at the end Of my line to
see my trout. But no trout was there,
and what was more, the grasshopper was
gone.
"What fool was,'' said to myself,
ito jerk the line out of the water in that
way, and scare all the fish. Now wort
catch any, and the people will laugh at me
when get home."
l caught another grasshopper, and
tried again and again, but it was no use.
The fish were evidently frightened. My
feelings, from the highest pitch Of hope
and exultation, were reduced to those OF
despair and chagrin. l almost cried.
hated to give it up so tried little fur.
Their down the brook.
This time the grasshopper laid undis.
turbed on the top of the water for several
minutes aud was just about to pull him
up and try somewhere else, when there
was ripple in the water-a splash The
grasshopper disappeared, and there was
jerk on hy line !, too, gave Jerk
upward. Oh, how delightfully."- hard the
line pulled up! And then as I whisked
my pole round toward the land, there
came out Of the water silvery sparkling
fish ! In moment he was lying on the
grass-my first trout!
HOW walked around nm and admired
him, and admired his beautiful spots, re-
splendent in the sun!
No more fishing that day. I had my
fish, it only remained now 10 get home
1t was in the middle Of the afternoon when
l folded up my rod, and with my trout
strung upon a piece Of tish.line, started
homeward. went along the road pretty
rapidly, can tell youaa had no fear Of
bulls now. I 5elive IL l had met bull
and he had tossed me, 1 should have gone
up in the air holding on to that fish like
a martyr. Alexander the Great, when
he en- cred in triumphal car one of the
cities he had conquered, could not have
felt proudcr than did, when I entered
the village, dusty and tired, and exhibit
ed my prize to the astouishcd townspeo.
pie. -
I have a great many times in my life
worked hard and overcome difficulties
but l do not remember ever feeling such
satisfaction and such pride as when
caught my first trout.