The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-01-18

sim, sara Ike, go Gown Snd get
that old umbrella frame we saw there.
Sim crept down, and soon returned
with an umbrella, whereof little was
left besides 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 it
overheard. Having done this the boys
walked away very unconcernedly to
another part of the vessel.
The line ran out to its utmost length
and then a connection appeared in the
water, as the umbrella was dashed from
side to side and over and over as if by
some large fish that was struggling 10
free itself No real fish could have,
been more active; and one Of the men,
glancing toward it, cried
" What's on the liner ,r T
The cry Immediately attracted the at
tention of the old gentleman, who
rushed aft and insisted on his right to
pull in the fish, as he had been so tan
tailed by the bites. The polite water
man gave way; and, selling the line,
the gentleman began to pull it in. The
excitement in the water increased with
the effort he made 1t was undoubtedly
blue-fsh he said, because he had,
caught hundreds of them in Buzzard's
Bay, and knew one by the pull. The
line slipped from his hands, the resist
aRce was so great; and he eagerly began
to pull in again. All on board were
eagerly watching the line.
" guess it's whale" said Ike
" Or 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
catching fish even Commodore Hunt
ress, and his hslibut hooked by the tail,
were beaten by this that flashed apd
foundered out there in the water. The
sunlight was in the eyes of those look
ing on, so that it was no wonder they
could not make out what it was. The
old gentleman had nearly got it in, and
giving o last effort he drew the sea
monster over the stern. Surprise and
anger filled the ancient fisherman as he
threw down the line and walked away,
laying all the blame on the one who
first gave the alarm,
Somehow or other it leaked out, be-
fore they reached Rivertown, that the
boys did it, as we'll as what sort of fish
it was that gave the bites and, though
the old gent felt vexed with them at
first; he afterwards confessed to the
skipper that they were "lively boys"
And when he found one of them was
Ike Darlington he asked him for his au-
tograph. ..,-=.-, d e.-..
Ike was warmly welcomed home by
Mrs. Darlington, who looked him over
to see if he had come back whole, and
then began catalogue of questions as
to what he had seen, how he had be-
haved, and how they had treated him.
" hope you we're good bly," she
said.
Ike assured her that his conduct had
been irreproachable, for the proof OF
which she might ask Sim.
" Well, Pm glad you didn't do any
thing to yindicate your good name for
people judge persons conduct by the
way he behaves himself, and we are al
ways happier when we have done
nothing our conscience acquits us of. &"
Ike said Yes'm," as he navigated
through a quarter section of custard
pie.
" And you like farming2"
d" Boss"
" What part did you like best?'
" Fishing"
/" hope you didn't go on the water
to catch fish, " said the dame, anxiously.
How could | catch 'em if didn't"
Mrs. Darlington silently admitted the
logical force of this question, looking at
him over her glasses, and then turned
his valise inside out to see if he had
brought back all of his clothes. She
shook every garment; and as she served
an old jacket thus, paper dropped out
Of one of, the pockets, which she
picked up.
What is that, Isaac?'' she asked
" My graciousp replied he, off that
isn't Joe Meody's letter which | wrote
to him up to the farml | put it in my
pocket and forgot to send it,"
After rebuking him for his neglect to
write to her, when he could find time
to write toany one else, she opened the
letter and read r-zv t.-.-...
CHILL TOP August s.
Dear Jo--I rite this on bee hyve in
a barn turned bottom up with lots of
swallers flying round out you can't
ketch 'em and | found three hens nests
which was laid away in the hay which
shall try to find some more. / and Sim
went for some hornets down into the
field and they stung Uncle Tracy on the
nose wen we drownded outa woodchuck
which didn becos he got away before
we drownded him. You ort to see the
Grower that me and Sim painted red
white and blew and we histed the cat up
on the well sweape to TELEGRAPH the boys
over the river who histed up pair of
boots and a corn baskit which is fun
though Uncle Tracy don't like it much.
I'm going fishing tomorrer with Sim
and Bill and tell The boys we are hunky-
dory also the old woman up the crick
"Yures ALWAYS, IKE PARTINGToN."
Who do you have reverence to by
old woman p" said Mrs. Partington n,
folding the note and looking at him Sc
verely over her spectacles.
Ike was confused for a moment.
" | guess | was absent-minded when
| wrote that" replied he; az should
have said lady of course. / had bad
pen, and couldn't think very straight"
" Well, be careful that you don't
make such mistake again, for to be dis
reputable to old people is not very credi-
BILE in the young"
AT the meeting of the Franklin Insti-
tute DR.. Isaac Morris, jr., exhibited
of the microphone for