The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-01-09

some large nsn tnat 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 q
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
talized by the bites. The polite water
man gave way; and, seizing the line,
the gentleman began to pull it in. The
excitement in the water increased with
the effort he made. 1t was undoubtedly
a 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
ance was 30 great; apd he eagerly began
to pull in again: All on board were
eagerly watching the line.
"I guess it's a whale" said Ike.
"Or a shark" said Sim.
The skipper said nothing, but he
looked funny round the corners of his
mouth as be glanced sideways at the
boys. ..
Never was there greater trouble in
catching fish; even Commodore Hunt
ress, and his halibut hooked by the tail,
were beaten by this that flashed and
houndered out there in the water. The
sunlight was in the eyes of those look
ing on, 80 that it was no wonder they
could not make out what it was. The
old gentleman had nearly got it in, and
giving a 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 well as what sort of fish
it was that gave the bites and, though
| the oil 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 Partington he asked him for his au.
tograph.
Ike was warmly welcomed home by
Mrs. Partington, who looked him ovel
to see if he had come back whole, and
then began catalogue of questions a:
to what he had seen. how he had be
haved, and how they had treated him
"I hope you were good boy," she
said.
Ike assured her that his conduct hac
been irreproachable, for the proof Of
which she might ask Sim.
Well, Pm glad you didn't do any
thing to vindicate your good name fo
people Judge persons conduct by th,
wayne behaves himself, and we are al
ways happier when we have don
nothing our conscience acquits us of.
Ike said " Yes'm," as he navigate'
through a quarter section of custar
pie. = ...
\ And you like farmingT' 50.
i q Boss"
| What part did you like best?'
Fishing"
hope you didn't 60 on the waite
to catch fish, !" said the dame, anxiously
How could catch 'em if didn't +?
Mrs. Partington silently admitted tn
logical force of this question, looking a
him over her glasses, and then turne
his valise inside out to see if he ha
brought back all of his clothes. Sh
shook every garment; and as she serve
an old jacket thus, a paper dropped ou
of one of the pockets, which sh
picked up. EEN 4s{
What is that, IsaacT' she asked.
"My gracious!" replied he, elf ths
isn't Joe Moody's letter which wrot
to him up to the farm! 1 put it in m
pocket and forgot to send it.''
After reDuking him for his neglect
write to her, when he could find tim
,, to write to any one else, she opened til
= letter and read:
I CHILL TOP, August 5.
8 "Dear Jo--I rite this on bee hyve
9 barn turned bottom up with lots I
|. swallers flying round out you can
!, ketch 'em and | found three hens mes
d which was laid away in the hay which
Q shall try to find some more. l and 81
n went for some hornets down into tf
n field and they stung Uncle Tracy on Il
q nose wen we drownded outa woodchut
e which didn tbecos he got away befo
n we drownded him. You ort to see Il
r, Grower that me and Sim painted r,
d white and blew and we histed the cat
y on the well sweape to tellegraff the bo
le over the river who histed up pair
re boots and q corn baskit which is fl
30 though Uncle Tracy don't like it muc
e. Pm going fishing tomorrer with 81
Is and Bill and tell the boys we are hunk
n dory also the old woman up the eric
to "Yures always, IKE PARTINGToN.'
re "Who do you have reverence to
'old womanP" said Mrs. Partingto
is folding the note and looking at him
ne vercly over her spectacles.
Ike was confused for moment.
ed Iguess 1 was Fabsent-minded wh
I wrote, that" replied he; I" I sho,
have said LADY, of course. had
pen, and couldn't think very straigh
+" Well,s be careful that you do
make such mistake again, for to be
ID, reputable to old people is not very ere
ne Bile in the young"