Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-07
rHEFIsHIHa SNACK.

while Tom was fisherman and sell
dom went outside the bay. He owned
the smack of which he was the cap
tain, and his son, Ben, steersman,
while both could troll line with
equal skill. When Tom was mar
ried he took possession of the hulk OF
an old schooner which some long-ago
storm had stranded upon the beach,
fitted it up for home, and in 1t Ben
had been Graded when a baby. 1t
stood high and dry, and ladder
like fight ofsteps led from the sandy
beach up to its front door.
Tom was prudent man, and Ben
q strong, manly, temperate boy; but
Jack. like most sailors, thought he
must have his grog as regularly as
his meals. One day, as he was wan
dering aimlessly about the beach,
watching the incoming vessels through
his glass, he met Tom and, as usual,
the old friends stopped to exchange a
word.
"Where away, Tom 7" cried Jack,
noticing the coat flung over his
friends shoulder as this good bit
ing weather ?"
"Well, not the best, Jack; the fish
have been shy of late, but | can't
always wait for good weather, A
fish is a fish, and since we supply the
big hotel, we're at it early and late
Ben and I. Them city folks do the
heaters on fish, | tell you! Some OF
'em was tellin' wife that fish diet
helps make brains. Now, did
YOU ever hear the like of that9 If |
had my way, some of them dandies
wouldn't get nothing else to eat till
they cot some sense into 'em" and
Tom turned with q shrug, while Jack
roared with laughter.
''Belay there now, will yeF he
called after Toms retreating figure ;
'I'm going with you, if you say So"
"All right! Come on them" Tom
called back, without stopping for
seamen do not stand upon the great
ceremony with each other.
Ben, watching from the high door
sill of his funny home, turned back
into the house well contented, for
now he could stay at home and finish
rigging up the brig he was at work
upon.
"Why don't You go with father
Ben? asked his mother.
''Oh, Jack Gilpin is going" said Ben
tying sailors knot in one of the
rope-ladders of his brig. Hell steer
and father can catch all the fish thai
will bite to-day, I'll warrant
Mrs. Somers went to the doc. anC
looked out. She could see the mel
launching the smack, hear thel
shouts of laughter, and almost thu
words they spoke. She put he
hands over her eyes and looked lon!
and earnestly, then turning said
''Ben, did Jack have any gro'
along?"
III don't know said the boy look
ing up. II didn't notice"
II hope notw she continued, in
worried tone. at looks squally il
the west, and they'll need cool head
to manage the smack"
The day wore on quietly enough
for, though clouds hung threaten
ingly about the horizon, there wa
but little change in the looks Of tn
BAY. Ben's brig, now quite finished
was carefully placed upon a shell
while he, tired with indoor confine
ment, took his fathers glass and wei
to look out on the bay but scan I'll
sea as closely us he might, he coul
not see hull nor sail of the smacl
This surprised him.
81 thought father knew too much
trust himself out so far this squat
weather. he thought. 81 wonder
Jack did take his grog along"
Even while standing there the vii
had freshened, and the white ca
were running in to shore like frish
ened sheep.
Just then, Ben heard his name ca
ed. and looking hemeward, saw /