Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-01-30
Miseellaneous. g
Lively Boys.

Prom "lKE rARriSGTos. OR. The ADVENTURES
oF HUMAN Boy ASD His FRIENDS" by u. 4.
shiliAber.
In a few minutes. after bidding Bill good
bye. they were on the packet, drifting down
the stream with slack tide; for there was
not breath OF air stirring. The way was
long to Rivertown, 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 sig
mails TO any one they might see on the shore,
shout 10 hear their voices echo among the
rocks, but boys are impatient. and SO they
were bored on board the packet. There
was little cabin in "The Sally Ann"
(Which was the vessels name) and they
went down into IL 10 see what IL was Ike.
II was little close place, with two small
holes In the stern for cabin windows, and Il
shelf each side, on which. II hard put 10 IL,
one or two might sleep. The boys stretch
ed themselves on .hese shelves, and looked
out dismally over the still water 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 a
fishing line on board. One OF the men
opened little closet near at hand, and pro-
duced line; and then, as there was no
other bait, he brought piece of fat pork
to put on the hook. Thus provided, the
gentleman threw over his line. the sinker
on which being heavy. ii sank quickly to
the bottom, the tide keeping il in place.
Then the fisherman begun the customary
narfn Of nul1tpn ho ti,a nj
down, keeping the sinker little way from
the bottom. and poising it SO that the least
nibble might not escape him. There is
nothing that pleases a lazy man SO much
| as this kind of fishing-of course. If he
catches anything; and. when he is too old
to carry pole all day through bog and
| brier, 1t is just the thing to taper Of with.
and brag about like an cid Nlmrod. So he
fshed.
Whats thatY' said Sim in q whisper, as
he saw the line drop into the water.
Somebody's fishing. / guess replied
Ike, who had been about half asleep.
'He can't catch any thing"
mo, Of course not"
Il don't believe he'll get bite"
"Nor L.
After waiting minute, Ike said. "Say
Sim. s'pose We give him some bitesY'
ochCd citus
'I'll show you"
Suiting the action to the word. Ike
reached out of the little window, took hold
OF the line and gave Ii a gentle twitch. Up
went the line. hand over hand. very rapid
ly, and they heard voice say. " Twas a
| splendid bite"
Bite him again. Ike. as soon as he gets
his line down." said sim, laughing at the
fun of the thing.
I'm give him bigger one next time. "
| said Ike.
| Down went the line; and it was pulled
| up and down nervously for a minute, wheu
reaching out again. Ike gave it a smarter
jerk. Again 1t was pulled in swiftly; and
the boys were coovulsed with Laughter, but
kept as still as they could SO that they
might not be heard.
''Didn't catch him that time- said Ike
II never had more positive bite" they
| heard the fisher say. ut must have been
tautog; they always seem to shut their
jaw right down on the bait
The skipper did not think 1t could be a
tautog. because none had been caught In
the river; cut it might have been some
heavy cod which had come into the river
to feed on the muscles at the old bridge
farther up.
| Down went the line again.. and it wa;
| drawn up and down as before; but the boys
waited fully five minutes before they touch.
| ed II
| Now. Ike, give him halibut- bite," said
| Sim.
| This time Ike gave a more determined
| pull with the same result; when, thinking
| they had carried the joke tar enough, they
crept out on deck. where they found the
fisherman iu state OF great excitement
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