The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-06-27
The Spoopendykes.
How the Pair Went Fishing.
Brooklyn Eagle.1

social sort of grin, show would youlke to
go fshing?"
Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely"
squealed Mrs. Spoopendyke ~ never was
fishing in my life, and always wanted to try
it. Where can we go?"
"Well, there are lots of places around Brook
lyn. Last Summer 1 saw boys catch good
many fish off the dock at the foot of State
street. We might go there"
"Just the place" conceded Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke. perhaps we can catch some sardines.
I'll bet spool of thread get the first shad!'
and in her glee Mrs Spoopendyke 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. Spoopendyks rigged
herself up for the pending excursion.
"Got any fish sticks?" she asked as Mr..
Spoopendyke returned rather warm from his
exercise.
''I've got some fishing rods, If that's what
you mean," replied Mr.. Spoopendyke, ''but 1
could only find four worms"
"Can't we break 'em in two?" inquired Mrs
Spoopendyke anxiously.
"Could if we had buzz saw" grunted Mr..
Spoopendyke. "Come along if you re coming"
and thoroughly equipped for the expedition
Mr. aud Mrs. Spoopendyke set out for the
State street pier
How long before they bite?" asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, hoisting her hook out of the
water and examining the point of worm her
husband had impaled thereon.
"They'l probably bite at that as soon as
they can borrow step LADDER retorted Mr..
Spoopendyke, eyeing the dangling hook. "If
you calculate to get any fish, you'd better let
that thing down in the water"
"Oh!" said Mrs. Spoopendyke, dropping the
hook. "Do you think 1 could catch a gold
fsh?" she inquired, after pause.
Hi! hold on! there, l lost hml" calculated
Mr.. Spoopendyke, firing his hook up toward
the heights.
$50 did II" chimed Mrs. Spoopendyke, as
she fell over backward and shot her sinker in
to Mr.: Spoopendyke's ear, 81 declare we both
lost himl''
"Whatye doing?" demanded Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke. ''What did ye lose? When Pm pull
ing in fish, you just sit still. will ye? Think
my heads fish pond? Drop it, tell We!
drop it in the water. There! now sit still and
fish,. Another time I'm pulling in Spanish
mackerel, you let things alone. You made me
lose that fish,
"You ought to have caught him" said Mrs.
~SAoJt yOo hohOu oplOE-
didly for him."
"I understand the business" rejoined Mr..
Spoopendyke, somewhat Modified. 'You see
he didn't even get the bait, big as he was"
'Im glad of that, because we've only got
three worms left. How I'd like to catch an
oyster. Do you know L"
"Histl Sh-h-hl Quiet. now I've got him!
See me play himl Now I'll fetch himl'
and Mr.. Spoopendyke reeled in until he
landed an old boot.
Ssf 1i6p,t hot fcJ, bol
chestnut" said Mrs. Spoopendyke quiverng
with excitement. "Crack him and let's see
what he isl
':Crack your grandmother" said Mr. Spoop-
cndyke shieing the boot up the pier. "He
wasn't good to eat, anyway. I'll get some-
thing"
Whats the matter with my stick? Let CO.
you nasty thing Here's another onel
Qnlck!'
"Pull him in, can't ye? You've got bite.
Haul upp'' cried Mr. Spoopendyke, trying to
untaDgle himself from his line and and help
his wife. "Lift him out of the waterl''
He won't let me-" squeaked Mrs. Spoopen-
dyke holding both arms out at full length.
Take him off; Scatl Go way, you monsteri"
Cliff your pole straight up in the arl"
shouted Mr.. Spoopendyke. "Hoist the dod
gasted thing right up"
Mrs. Spoopendyke exerted herself and dis
closed an eel, dangling.
"Its rattlesnakel" she yelled. Don't go
near him! Fire! Firei murder police! po-
lice-e-e''
"Hold your yawp, will YEP" bawled Mr..
Spoopendyke. "Get him over the dock SO
can catch him! What ye holding him out there
for? Waiting for him TO dry? Stick that pole
straight up in the air, l tell ye."
Mrs. Spoopendyke threw the pole oyer her
shoulder and Topped the eel into Mr.. Spoop-
endyke's countenance.
"Dod gast the measly cell" he howled, as
he spit it out. "Stop waving that slam blasted
lightning rod like flag, will ye? Hold it still,
l say! Think you're tree?"
"Don't touch him! Throw him overboard
He'll sting you to death!' gurgled Mrs. Spoop-
endyke, and, forgetting that the pole still ex-
jerk and slipped it through Mr.. Spoopendyke's
fingers That gentleman made spring for it,
and swashed into the water.
"Heu! blab! baa! waggle, glu, hic, ga, gag
gle!'' sputtered Mr.. Spoopendyke, as some
lightermen tished him out.
''Did you catch cold, dear?" inquired Mrs.
Spoopendyke with solicitude, as they made
their way home.
'.If did, landed it," growled Mr.. Spoop-
endyke, blowing mud like the exhaust of a
tug.
Z Anyway, caught an eel, didn't II" asked
Mrs. Spoopendyke, carrying out the woman's
idea OF comforting man with the only thing
he don't want to hear about.
"Oh, you caught it!'' ripped Mr.. Spoopen-
dyke. You're fish woman, you are. All
you want now is glass sides and some bubbles
running through you to be an aquarium! An
other time we both go fishing, you stay at
home! You hear?'
And with this novel mathematical sugges-
ton, Mr.. Spoopendyke hunted himself to his
domicile and took rum sweat.