The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-01-09
OUR STORY TELLER.
LIVELY BOYS.

drifting down stream with the slack
tide; for there was not breath of air
stirring. The way was long to River
town, and promised little of interest to
the young voyagers. The river was
very beautiful, bordered by deep woods
and majestic rocks, whose dark shadows
lay upon the waters; but they did not
care much about such things. They
would talk for a moment to people in
boats, make signals to any one they
might see on the shore, shout to hear
their voices echo among the rocks; but
boys are impatient, and no they were
bored ON board the packet. There was
a little cabin in the "Sally Ann" (which
was the vessels name), and they went
down into it tosee what it was like. 1t
was little close place, with two small
holes in the stern for cabin-windows,
and a shelf each side, on which, if hard
put TO it, one or two might sleep. The
boys stretched themselves on these
shelves, and looked out dismally over
the still water far behind.
There was an elderly passenger, who
was also annoyed by the slow movement
Of the boat. He had grown tired of
viewing the scenery, and thrown his
magazine one side, and now asked the
skipper if he had fishing-line on board.
One Of the men opened a little closet
near at hand, and produced line; and
then, as there was no other bait, he
brought a piece of fat pork to put on
the hook. Thus provided, the gentleman
threw over his line, the sinker on which
being heavy, it sank quickly to the bot
tom, the1tide keeping it il place. Their
the fisher began the customary per
formance of pulling the lire up ant
down, keeping the sinker aslittle wa!
from the bottom, and poising it 80 thu
least nibble might not escape him. Their
is nothing thas pleases a lazy man 81
much as this kind of fshing-of course
il he catches anything; and, when he i
too old to carry pole am day through
bog and brier, il is Just the kind +
taper off with" and brag about lik
an old Nimrod. So he fshed.
What's thatT said Sim in a whit
per, as he saw the line drop into tn
water.
Somebody fishing, I guess" reptile
Ike, who had been about half-asleep.
He can't catch anything"
mo, Of course not" %
Il don't believe he'll get bite 7
After waiting minute Ike sai'
r. Say, Sim, s'pose we give him SON
bitesT W ftfTtif
"HowT' asked Sim.
"Pll show you"
Suiting the action to the word, II
reached out of the little window, too
hold of the line, and gave it a gent
twitch. Up went the line, hand ov
hand, very rapidly, and they heard
voice say, "'Twasa splendid bite"
Bite him again, Ike, as soon as
gets his line down, said Sim, laughil
at the fun of the thing.
"rll give him bigger one ne
time" said Ike. aa
Down went the line and it was pull
up and down nervously for a minut
when, reaching out again, Ike gave
smarter jerk. Again it was pulled
swiftly; and the boys were convuls
with laughter, but kept as still as tn
could, so that they might not be heal
Didn't catch him that time," 50
Ike. ausii ,..i Ilf.
az never had more positive bitt
they heard the fisher say. " 1t m,
have been tautog: they always Sc,
to shut their jaw right down ON
bait"
The skipper did not think it could
tautog, because none had ever be
caught in the river; but it might
some heavy cod which had come il
the river TO feed on the muscles at
old bridge, further up.
Down went the line again, and 1t v
drawn up and down as before; but
boys waited fully five minutes bef
they touched it.
/" Now, Ike, give him halibut bit
said Sim.
This time Ikegave more determir
pull, with the same result; when, thi
ing they had carried the joke far enou
they crept ont ON deck, where Il
found the fisherman in state of gr
excitement, trying again for bite, .
disappointed that he could not
another one, declaring that he ne
had finer bites 10 his life. The b
chuckled to themselves, but said nothi
The old gentleman at last disc
tinued trying, but left his line hang
over the stern. A breeze sprang up,
tide increased, aud the packet mo-
swiftly, the line stretching far behi
"Sim," said Ike, ego down and
that old umbrella frame we saw tn,
Sim crept down, and soon retur
with an umbrella, whereof little
left besides the sticks; to which,
Zine having been drawn in, Ike attac
the hook near the ferule, that the fra
might not spread, and then threw
overheard. Having done this the /
walked away very unconceruedly
another mart of the vessel. = af :
The line ran out to its utmost len,
and then a commotion appeared in
water, as the umbrella was dashed (
side 10 side and over and over AZ i