Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-01-23
AhOat On An Ice FlOe.

gan for its severity. KOads were
rendered all but impossible from
the deep dry character of the snow,
and the residents of the lake shore
suffered untold privatiOns from the
closing of navigation at least five
weeks earlier than usual. BY the
last of October Jack Frost held
undisputed sway over the waters
between Port Huron and the
Straits of Mackinaw, and the east
shore of the State from Saginaw
Bay northward was practically cut
of from the world at large.
Business affairs located me for
the winter at Altoona, whittier l
removed in August. Three fami-
lies, along with my own, constituted
the sole society for days ride in
either direction, the remainder Of
the inhabitants being loggers and
mill men.
The hamlet, for it was little else,
could scarce boast 300 sOuls,and de-
pended for existence upon the
cutting and manufacture of lumber.
Society being thus limited, it was
matter Of some difficulty to de-
wise means of dispelling ever
threatening ennui. The ladies met
daily to plan teas, dinners, back
CANNON parties, and to compare
babies, while the gentlemen essayed
all forms of amusement, from chess
and bumble-puppy down tOmarbles
and hop-scOtch. Books were rare,
while mails were a week apart or
or more, and always irregular.
On the morning of the 23d of
April a somewhat seedy individual
of the topper type, genus fisher
man, presented himself at my door,
offering for sale a magnificent
specimen of the Namycush or
Mackinac trOut-a near relative Of
the lordly salmon, and known to be
most appetizing when artfully pre-
pared. 1t was at once purchased as
a valuable addition to the mOrrow's
dinner, given by my wife in honor
OF her birthday.
Where such a grand fish should
have come from was something Of
mystery, since the species is
found only in deep waters far from
shore, and we had reason to be-
lieve that Lake Huron was one un-
broken sheet of ice from the Michi-
gan to the Canada shOre-here a
distance of some ninety miles.
Now, be it known, we males were
fishermen of the most violently
scientific and artistic type; and,
curiosity being aroused regarding
the capture of the aforesaid Many
cush, a counsel was held that dele
gated the writer to inquire into the
matter, in the faint hope it might
provide a new and varied amuse-
ment.
found the Commodore as our
fisherman was called, practicing
vigorously at the bar of low
doggery that arrogated to itself the
title of a hotel. BY means of
sundry mods and winks, such as
are known to the initiated, sue
ceeded in Turing him out Of doors,
when l opened the ball with:
Commodore, where did you pro
cure the trout you sold my wife
this morniDgP
In the lake.
SO presumed. But would you
mind informing me as to where in
the lake you secured him and the
means Of capture emplOyedP
Didn't secOOr him tall jest
ketched him.
TIOw did You catch himl
Holy Moses. Snatched him, Of
course; dye s'pose stole him ?
Certainly not, certainly not,
| Commodore; but | really cannot
say that I fully comprehend your
meaning
sJess SOL and, with a horrible
cOntortiOn of his darkened cheek
and pump handle movement of
his right arm, he disappeared
within the bar-rOOm.
Though nonplussed, was not
willing to abandon the matter thus
easily, and followed closely at his
heels; finally, seizing favor
able opportunity, effusively press
ed a silver dollar into his palm
with the request that he would
wait upOn me at my Office an hour
later Punctual he was almost to
the striking Of the clock, but far
from state of perfect sobriety.-
Renewing my quiz<ing, but little
better results were obtained, until
bethought myself of the possible
effects of another piece of silver /;
when, behold, he became as COM
municatlve as he bad before been
reticent. After several endeavOrs
to make me understand the pc
cll sodties of a SNATCH and its
my yent wgse matters at that mo-
I'M ane too clear to him.