Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-07-11
The SpOOpendykes.
How I'll. PAIR WENT FISHING.

Say, my dear" said Mr.. Spoopendyke,
with a social sort of a grin, chow would you
like to go fishing:"
Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely
squealed Mrs. Spoopeadyke. II never was
fishing in my life and | always wanted to
try it, Where can We gof"
"Well. there are lots of places around
Brooklyn. Last summer saw boys catch
good many fish off the dock at the foot of
State street. We might go there"
Just Il place." conceded Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke. perhaps we can catch some sar-
dimes. I'll bet spool of thread get the
first shad.' and in her glee Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke waltzed across the room and back.
Mr.. Spoopendyke smiled pleasantly upon
his wife and started out into the yard To get
some worms, while Mrs. Spoopendyke rugged
herself up for the pending excursion.
''Got any fish sticks?" she asked as Mr..
Spoopendyke returned, rather warm from his
exercise.
1--WE got some fishing rods. if that's what
you mean," replied Mr.. Spoopendyke, "bu
! could only find four worms
Cant we break 'em in two;" inquired
Mrs. Spoopendykc, anxiously.
"Could if We had n buzz saw" grunicd
Mr.. Spoopendyke. "Come along IL you are
coming" and thoroughly equipped for the
| expedition Mr.. and Mrs. Spoopendyke set
out for State street pier.
"IIow long before they will bite?" asked
Mrs. Spoopendyke. hoisting her hook out of
the water and examining the point of worm
her husband had impaled thereon.
"They'll probably bite at that as soon as
they can borrow a step ladder, retorted Mr..
Spoopendyke. eyeing the dangling hook "lf
you calculate to get any fish, you'd better let
| that thing down in the water,
"Ohr' said Mrs. SpoopendyEe dropping the
hook. "Do yoa think | could catch gold
| fish?" she inquired. after pause.
"lIi! hold on there, lost him" ejacu-
lated Mr. Spoopendykc, firing his hook up
toward the heights.
$50 did l r chimed Mrs. Spoopendyke, as
she fell over backward and shot her sinker
into Mr.. Spoopendykes ear, 'l declare We
both lost him.
"what We doing?" demanded Mr.. Spoop.
! endyke. What did We losep When I'm
pulling in fish. YOU Just sit still, will ye?
Think my heads n fish pond! Drop it,
| tell We! drop 1t in the water. There now sit
still and fish, Another time I'm pulling in
a Spanish mackerel. you let things alone.
You made me lose that fish,
''Y0u ought to have caught him." said Mrs.
Spoopndyke soothingly, 'you fshed splen-
didly for him.
81 understand the business, - rejoined Mr..
Spoopendyke, somewhat Modified. "fou
see he didn't even get the bait, big as he
was"
"I'm glad of that, because we've only got
three worms left. How I'd like to catch an
oyster. Do you know /"
"IIist. Sh-h-b. Quiet now I've got
him" and Mr.. Spoopendyke rceled in until
he landed an old boot.
81 didn't know that ish had burs on like
chestnut" said Mrs. Spoopendyke quivering
with excitement. Crack him and let's see
what he is
"Crack your grandmother said Mr..
Spoopendyke shieing the boot up the pier.
"He wasn't good to eat, anyway. I'll get
something
whats the matter with my stick? Let
go. you nasty thing! Here's another one
Quick =
"Pull him in. can't YEP You've got bite.
Haul up cried Mr.. Spoopendyke, trying to
untangle himself from his line and help his
wife. Lift him out ofthe water.'
ale won't let me-" squeaked Mrs. Spoop-
endyke holding both arms out at full length.
"Take him off, Scat! Go way, you mon
sterl'
'Lift your pole straight up in the air!''
shouted Mr.. Spoopendyke. "IIoist the dod
gasted thing right up.
| closed an eel. dangling.
'sIt's n rattlesnake,' she yelled. "Don't
go near him! Fire. Fire. murder police
police-e-e!'
'Hold your yawp, will YEP" bawled Mr..
Spoopendyke. .'Get him over the dock so |
| can catch him, What We holding him out
there forI Waiting for him to dry? Stick
that pole straight up in the air tell ye.'
Mrs. Spoopendyke threw the pole over her
shoulder and Topped the eel into Mr.. Spoop-
endyke's countenaDce.
''Dod gast the measly eel ~ he howle as
he spit it out. 'sStop waviag that slam
blasted lightning rod like a flag, will ye?
Hold it still, ! say. Think you're tree?'
"Dont touch him Throw him overheard!
He'll sting you to death" gurgled Mrs.
Spoopendyke. and. forgetting that the pole
still exercised an influence over the eel, she
gave it jerk and slipped it through Mr..
Spoopendyke's fingers. That gentleman
| made spring for il, and swashed into the
| water.
"Heu. blab! baa! wagple, glu. hic, ga,
gaggle." spnttered Mr.. Spoopendyke, as
| some lightermen fished him out.
"Did you catch cold, dear?" inquired Mrs.
Spoopendyke with solicitude, as they made
| their way home.
eff I did, / landed it," growled Mr.. Spoop-
| endyke, blowing mud like the exhaust Of a
| tug.
anyway, I caught an eel, didn't II"
asked Mrs. Spoopendyke, carrying out the
woman's idea Of comforting . man with the
only thing he didn't want to hear about.
.'Oh. you caught it :" ripped Mr.. Spoopen.
dyke. "Youre fish woman, you are. All
you want now is glass sides and some bub-
b,es running through you to be an aquarium!
Another time we both go fishing, you stay at
home! You hear?"
| And with this novel mathematical sugges-
ti0n, Mr.. Spoopendyke hunted himself to his
aomicile and took rum sweat Brooklyn
J Eagle.