Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-30
The boys chuckled to themselves. but said


nothing.
The old gentleman at last discontinued
| irving, but left his line hanging over the
| stern. A breeze sprang up. the tide increas-
cd. and the packet moved swiftly, the line
stretching far behind
sim" said Ike in low tone. 'go down
and get that old umbrella frame We saw
there"
Sim crept down. and soon returned with
an umbrella. whereof little was left besiet
the sticks, to which, the line having been
drawn in. Ike attached the hook near the
ferule. that the frame might not spread.
and then threw 1t overheard. Having done
this, the boys walked away very uncon-
cernedly to another part OF the vessel.
The line ran out TO its whole length, anI
then great commotion appeared IN the
water, as the umbrella was dashed from
side to side and over aud over as II by some
large fish that was struggling to free Itself.
No real fish could have been more active;
and one of the men glancing toward 1t.
cried
What's on the liue?"
The cry Immediately attracted the a,ten-
ton OF the old gentleman. who rushed AFT,
and insisted on his right to pull In the fish,
as he had been so tantslized by the bites.
The polite waterman gave way; and, seiz-
lag the line, the gentleman began to pulliit
in. The excitement In the water increased
with the effort he made. II was undoubt-
edly blueiish. he said. because he had
caught hundreds o! them In Buzzard's Bay.
and knew one by the pull. The line slip
ped from his hands. the resistance was so
great; and he eagerly began to pull In
again. All on board was now watchdog the
line.
II guess It Is n whale said Ike.
"Or a shark" said Sim.
The skipper said nothing, but he looked
funny round the corners OF bis mouth as he
glanced sideways at the boys.
Never was there greater trouble in catch
Ing a fish even Commodore Huntress, and
his allbut hooked by the tail, were beaten
by this that flashed and houndered out
there In the water. The sunlight was 10
the eyes OF those looking on. SO that II was
no wonder they could not make out what II
was. The old gentleman had nearly got IL
In, and giving q last effort he drew the sea
monster over the stern. Surprise and
anger filed the ancient fisherman as he
threw down the line, and walked away,
laying all the blame TO the one who first
gave the alarm.
Somehow or other II leaked out, before
they reached Riyertown, that the boys did
IL, well as what sort OF fish il was that
gave the bites; and, though the old gent
ielt vexed with them at first. he afterwards
confessed to the skipper that they were
"llyely boys" And, when he found out
that one of them was Ike Partington, he
asked him for his GutoJruph'
Ike was warmly welcomed home by Mrs.
Partington, who looked him over to see IL
he had come back whole, aud then began
catalogue of questions as to what he had
been. doing how he had behaved aud how
they had treated him.
Il hope you were n good boy" she said.
Ike assured her that his conduct had been
irreproaehable. for the proof Of which she
might ask Sim.
well Im glad 10 hear that you didn't
do anything To yindicate your good name;
for people judge persons conduct by the
way he behaves himself, and we are always
happier when we have done nothing that
our conscience acquits Us Of
Ike said "Yes'm," as he navgated
through quarter section al cnstard pie.
''And did you like farmIugr'
Boss"
what part did you like bes;:"
Fishing"
Il hope you didn't go on the water TO
catch fish, said the dame anxiouslv.
How could catch 'em II didn't
Mrs. Pauington silently adAiited the
logical force OF this question, looking a,
him over her glasses. and then turned his
yalise inside out to see Ii he had brought
back all of his clothes. She shook every
garment: and, as she served an old jacket
thus 4 paper dropped out OF one OF the
pockets, which she picked up.
what Is that, Isaac p she asked.
My gracious :" replied he, "if that isn't
Joe Moody's letter which wrote him up TO
the farm, put it In my pocket, and for
got TO send 1T
After rebuking him for his neglect to
write TO her, when he could find time to
write 10 any one else, she opened the let
ter, aud read =
HuL-ToP, August ..
DEAR Jo-I rite thi. on bee hyye in barn
turned bottom up with lots OF swalers flying
round but you cant keich EN- and found three
hens nests which was laid away in the hay
which i shall try 10 find some more. / and
Sim went for sum hornets down into the field
and they stung Uncle Tracey on the nose wen
We drownded out woodchuck which we
didn't becos he got away before We drownded
him. You ort TO see the Grower that me and
siIa painted red white and blew and we histed
the cat up on the well sweape to tellegraf the
boys over the river who histed up n pare OF
boots and corn baskit which is fun though
Uncle Tracey don't like IL much. I'm going fish
ing tomorrer with Sim and Bill and tell the fel-
lers that We are hunky dory also the old woman
up the crick. lures always,
IKE PARTISGToS.
who do you have reverence to by 'old
woman'?' said Mrs. Partington. folding
the note, and looking at him severely over
| her spectacles.
Ike was confused for q moment.
81 guess | was absent minded when |
wrote that" replied he; Il should have
said lady of course. l had bad pen, and
| couldn't think very straight
"Weli, be careful that you don't make
such mistake again, for to be disreputa-
bic TO old people is not very credible In the
young"