The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-10-09
NUMBER 1914.

shouts that supDer is ready. He has
filed his eyes wi h smoke while max
ing the damp leaves Of the woods kim
die fire, whose ashes now yield baked
potatoes. Green twigs make good
toasting forks for the slices OF ham,
and the bread and cheese are washed
down with liberal drafts Of cider from
the little brown Jug. Truly this is a
hue night, The wind is roaring in the
tree-tops, and the waves are making a
very respectable noise on the beach,
Pounding down the punches in our
hay conch. we draw the buffalo robes
over us and sleep soundly. Rome
wakes at daylight aud cries, "Timel"
Haif-past threei Ye gods, what mis-
erably early hour for risingl A row OF
a mile in the cleaning takes us across
to Darlington's Point, where we build
fire, eat hearty breakfast, and row.
ing TO the edge Of blue water, let out
the trolling lines into the heavy waves,
tipped with white caps. The east is in
all the glory OF sunrise. Staid old
farmers, do ye know that one who
could transfer this scene TO canvass
wonld be immortal; that the views,
changing and retiring in their perfec-
tion as we enter Wlllett's Cove, prove
that beanty has here pitched her tents?
But tish has struck one OF the hooks,
and his leap in the early sunlight, ten
rods away, makes Rome tremble with
excitement. The diamond drops fall
from the oars, which are steadily piled
mile after mile, until Pennocks is reach
ed. 1t is not good day for trolling,
but as we pass Black Bass Point, two
fish are taken. Regal with its many
crescents, the low-lying shores Of the
western part Of the lake appear, and
as we glide across the bar and let ont
the lines, il is II o'clock. Eight miles
ot rowing, and but three fish, A mile
along the north shore, then the edge Of
a line OF rushes is followed, curviDg to
the south; forty rods more, and we will
have flushed the circuit of the lake
but the right hand line straightens,
then the left. Gloriousi Here is
leaping bass on each hookl The oars
are dropped for the first time, and two
happy trollers each pull in fish, one a
gigantic fellow, the largest bass of the
season.
half days rowing brings us to
lunch with a sharp appetite, and dur
the heat of the day we will watch from
the grassy bank the long fight Of the
cranes, and the circle Of the many
white winged gulls. whose cries come
family over the water. But harkl a
far-off sudden rumble; the water grows
still and black, and hush is among
the leaves. There, in the west. sweeps
on the hght-colored advance line of a
heavy thunder-shower The tree-tops
yonder are bowing their heads in q
90
but soon there is fast, thick, patter-
ing on the woods. and as the storm
breaks over us, the lake-shore tumbles
with heavy waves displayed by the
flashes Of lightning. Secure in ohr
shanty, We listen 10 the long roll Of
the thunder, and before the storm is
fairly over Rome has rowed us far out
on the lake, whose rain-washed and
sunlit eastern woods are drowned by
the bow Of promise The rods are
speedily adjusted, while we float on the
CLASSY water, as II were between the
earth and sky. For two hours we fish
with good success, then a lovely sun
set. The shadows are peaceful; the
silence OF night lulls TO repose ths
lrke, which, like another sky, seems to
contain its own luminaries of moon
and stars. But softl The twang Of
oarloeks Passing yonder, in the strip
OF silvery light, is belated swain re-
turning to Chambers Landing, his la
dy love singing in time with the dip of
the oars, as their skiff moves through
the scattering rushes.
When we take the train for the East
we feel that one who has suffered two
years Imprisonment in busy city Of
fee, surrounded by stone walls and
breathing an atmosphere of smoke and
dust, may be excused for his enthus-
iasm over the attractions Of this sheet
Of water, bluff-guarded, rill and spring
fed, forest-girdled. wide-winding, with
its many eoves and grassy banks, its
pure air, green pastures and still wa
ters-beautiful Devils Lake.