Smyrna times., 1879-03-19
Lively Boys

Lee 4 Sheppard, Boston, are publishing
;..of books, called " Lively Boys" One
.h..a books is entitled like Parting, |
or the adventures of human boy |
mi. friends" from which we take the |
following story; .
n few minutes, after bidding Bill
.abv. they were on the packet drifting |
e. the stream with the slack tide; for
..,..w,s not breath Of air stirring. The |
,,ov was long to Rivertown. and promised
,,tla of interest to the young voyagers.
rho river was very beautiful, bordered by
daon woods and majestic rocks, whose
al shadows lay upon the waters; but
,bsv did not care much about such things.
rbsv would talk for moment to people
n boats. make signals to any one they
.,;,bt see on the shore, shout to hear their
-,;cos echo among the rocks; but boys are
;,natient, and so they were bored on board
,ba nacket There was little cabin in
tho S,Hs Ann (which was the vessels
DsmA. and they went. down into 1t to see
what it was ike. 1t was a little close place
,;,b two small holes in the stern for cabin
windows and shelf each side. on which'
If hard nut to it, one or two might sleep.
Tho bovs stretched themselves on these
shelves and looked out dismaly 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 Lis magazine on one
side. and now asked the skipper if he had
6shing.line on board. One of the men
oDened little closet near at hand ard
produced line; and then, as there was no
other bait he brought piece OF fat pork
to nut on the hook. Thus provided, the
gentleman threw over his line, the sinker
on which being heavy, it sank quickly to
the bottom, the tide keeping it in place.
Then the fisher began the customary per-
formance of pulling the line up and down,
keeping the sinker little from the bot
tom. and posing it so that the least nibble
might not escape him.
Whats that2" said Sim in whisper,
as he saw the line drop into the water.
Somebody's fishing, l guess replied
Ike, who had been about half asleep.
I" He can't catch anything"
"No, of course not"
81 don't believe he'll get bite
"NorI."
After waiting minute Ike said, SAY
SIN, spose we give him some bitesY
How? ?" asked Sim.
"Ill show you
Suiting the action to the word, Ikt
reached out Of the little window, took hole
Of the line, and gave it a gentle twitch
Up went the line, hand over hand, yer.
rapidly, and they heard voice say, " "'Iwa
asplendid bite
Bite him again, Ike, as soon as he get
his line down." said Sim, laughing at til
fun of the thing.
"Ill give him bigger one next time,
gaid Ike.
Down went the line; and it was pulle
up and down nervously for minute, wher
reaching out again, Ike gave it a smarte
jerk. Again it was pulled in swiftly; an
the boys were convulsed with laughter, bu
kept az still as they could SO that the
might not be heard.
Didn't catch him that time" said Tx
never had more positive bite" the
heard the fisher say. alt must have bee
tautog; they always seem to shut the
Jaw right down on the bait"
The skipper did not think it could be
tautog, because none had ever been caugl
In the river; but it might be some heav
COD which bad come into the river to fee
on the muscles at the old bridge farth
up.
Down went the line again, and it W
drawn up ard down as before; bat Il
boys waited fully five minutes before tn
touched it.
Now, Ike, give him halibut. bite
said Sim.
This time Ike gave more determin
pull with the same result; when thinki
'hey had carried the joke far enough, tn
c'ept out on deck, where they found t
Asherman in a state of great exciteme
Nylns again for bite, and disappoint
mat he could not get another one, decl
60 that he never had finer bites in his ii
Aoe boys chuckled to themselves, but 81
nothing.
+ Inc old gentleman at last discontint
~ying' but left his line hanging over
''efn' breeze sprang up, the tide
creased, :. and the packet moved swiftly,
Nne stretching far behind
Sim" said Ike in low tone, ego dc