Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-04-09
THE FISHING SMACK.

predb CFOHlcb. oaoh f"oc ASS
tar, land sailed the ocean blue"
while Tom was fisherman and sell
dom went outside the bag. 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 a home, and in it Ben
had been Graded when baby. 1t
stood high and dry, and a ladder
like fight of steps led from the sandy
beach up to its front door.
Tom was a prudent man, and Ben
q strong, manly, temperate boy; OUT
Jack, like most sailors, Thought ne
must have his grog as regularly "S
his meals. One day, asthe was wall
dering aimlessly about the peacll'
watching the incoming vessels through
his glass, he met Tom and' as usual usual
the old friends stopped to exchange a
word.
aWhere away, Tom cried Jack,
noticing the coat tiuHg over his
friends shoulder. lis tins GOOD bit
ing weather"
s'Well, not the best, Jack; the hsh
have been shy of late, but | can't
always wait for good weather. A
fish is fish, and since we supply the
big hotel, we're at it early and late
Ben and /. 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 that? If |
had nv way, some of them dandies
wouldn't get nothing else to eat till
they rot some sense into emp and
Tom turned with shrug, while Jack
rOared with laughter.
Delay there now, will ye" he
called after Toms retreating figure
sim going with you, if you say so.'
"All right! Come on then" Tom
called back, without stopping foi
seamon do pot 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, fol-
now he could stay at home and finish
rigging up the brig he was at work
upon.
"Why don't you 70 with father
Benz asked his mother,
''Oh, Jack Gilpin going" said Ben
tying sailors knot in one Of the
rope-ladders of his brig. Hell steel
and father can catch all the fish tina
will bite to-day, I'll warrant
Mrs. Somers went to the door ant
looked out. She could see the mel
launching the smack, hear theil
shouts of laughter, and almost thu
words they spoke. She put he,
hands over her eyes and looked Ion!
and earnestly, then turning said:-
"Ben, did Jack have any gro!
along"
II don't know" said the boy look
ing up. II didn't notice"
II hope not!' she continued, in
worried tone. ut looks squally i
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 wen
to look out on the bay g.; but scan tn
sea as closely as he might, he coul
not see hull nor sail of the smacl
This surprised him.
II thought father knew too much
trust himself out so far this squall
weather." he thought. 81 wonder
Jack did take his grog along"
Even while standing there the win
had freshened. and the white caI
were running in to shore like frigh
,ened sheep.
I,st than Ran heard his name cal