The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-07
A Fishing Excursion.

Say, my dear" said Mr.. Spoopendyke, with
a social sort of a grin, show would you like tl
go fshing?"
"Wouldn't that be perfectly lovely p sQueal
ed Mrs. Spoopendyke Il never was fishing
in my life, and l always wanted TO try it
Where can we go?"
"Well, there are lotsof places around Brook.
Ign. Last Summer | saw boys catch a good
many 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 y
Ill bet spool Of thread get the first shad =
and in her glee Mrs. Spoopendyke waltzed
across the room and back again
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, us Mr..
Spoopendyke returned, rather warm from his
exercise.
'Tye got some fishing rods, if that's what
you mean," replied Mr.. Spoopenlyke, but l
could only find four worms"
Cant we break 'em in two?" inquired Mrs.
Spoopendyke, anXiousy.
Gould if We had buzz saw" grunted Mr..
Spoopendyke. Come along, ifyou're coming, ,
and thoroughly equipped for the expedition Mr.
and Mrs Spoopendyke set out for the State
street pier.
How long before they bite?" asked Mrs.
Spoopendyke, hosting 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 step ladder" retorted Mr..
Spoopendyke, cycling the dangling hook III
you calculate to get any fish, you'd better let
that thing down in the water"
oh said Mrs. Spoopendyke, dropping the
rod, DO you think | could catch goldfish ?"
she inquired after pause.
eli hold on there, have lost hirnw ejac-
ulated Mr.. Spoopendyke, firing his hook up
toward the Heights
$50 did p chimed Mr. Spoopendyke as she
fell over backward and shot her sinker into
Mr.. Spoopendyke's ear, Il declare we both lost
him p
"What are you doing 2" demanded Mr.. Spoo-
pendyke "What did we lose? When Pm
pulling in fish, you just sit still, willye? Think
my heads a fish pond? Drop it, | tell ye
drop it in the water. There! Now sit still
and fish. Another time I'm pulling in a Span
ish mackerel, you let me alone. You made me
lose that fish"
"You ought to have caught him." said Mrs
Spoopendyke, soothingly, you tished splendid
ly for him."
81 understand the business" rejoiEed Mr..
Spoopendyke, somewhat modified, "You 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 /"
"Hist! Sh-h-h Quiet now I've got him !!
See me play him Now I'll fetch him r' and Mr.
Spoopendyke reeled III until he landed an old
boot.
81 didn't know that fish had burrs on, like
chestnut" said Mrs. Spoopendyke, quivering
with excitement. "Crack him and let's see
what he is"
Crack your grandmother snorted 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 thingl Here is another one
Quick w
"Pull him in, can't ye? You've got bite
Haul up" cried Mr.. spoopendyke, trying to
untangle himself from his line 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! Scat Go away, you
monster"
Lift your pole straight up in the air"
shouted Mr.. Spoopendyke Hoist the dog
gasted thing right up !"
Mrs. Spoopendyke exerted herself and dis
closed an eel dangling.
cts a rattlesnakel she yelled 'Dont go
near him Fire fire murder! police po-
lice eel"
Hold your yawp, ill YEP" bawed Spoo-
pendyke Get him over the dock so can
catch him What We holding him out there
for! Waiting for him to dry? Stick that
pole straight up in the air, | tell yer
Mrs. Spoopendyke threw the pole over her
shoulder and flooped the eel INTO Mr. Spoopen-
dykes countenance.