The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-08-25
Intbc AdirOndackS.


ter luncheon, .'that we can't do better
than try the pools up the creek for pick
erel. saw big fellow lurking under
the shadow of the bank yesterday in one
of them, and l am confident we shall
have sport. It's a good afternoon for
fishing. What do you say to IT. Mr.
Cleveland =
Doc" was the reply u tramped Il good
deal this forenoon, any way, ana Ia
rather fish now than do anything else.
The two shouldered THAR rods and
started off up the creek. Arriving at
what seemed likely spot for pickerei,
the question of what bait was best came
up, and the Doctor advocated live frogs.
Il know you object to killing an old bull
frog" he explained, because of your
sentiments expressed yesterday, but the
kind we shall use for bait will be the lit
tie brown hoppcrs. If there's anything
"a pickrel just delights in it's a small,
fresh frog"
Two active little frogs We're easily
caught, the hooks were baited by passing
the steel through the skin on the frogs
backs. leaving them alive and with pow
er of movement, and then, seating them
selves on the bank few yards apart,
the President and the Doctor began fish
ing Little was said and each, ligting a
cigar, smoked away placidly awaiting
bite. 1t was not long before there was
n rush in the water, n swirl, n struggle,
and little later the Doctor had landed
fine pickerel on the sward beside him.
The President looked enviously at the
dappled sides of the fish and watched
his own line with increased interest, but
it did not stir. Again and again was
the Doctor successful, but his compan-
ion had no luck The hours passed but
the President caught no fish, He be-
came listiess.
Il don't see how it is. Doc" said he,
finally, ''that you catch SO many fish,
while don't get even a nibble. used
to be a successful fisherman when | was
a boy. All, those We're good timcs,"
and he sighed deeply. "Dinner always
had a relish in those days, and there was
enjoyment in everything. I can see it
now-the hard. white road, winding be
tween green fields, and the wooden
bridge over the creek i'll the hollow.
There We're always fish in the deep water
under the bridge and in the pools above
and below it. We fshed with pin hooks
we boys, and we brought out every fish
with a yank to prevent him falling off
the hook. but we generally had good
luck. I know | always went home with
more chubs and sinners than they liked
to cook. 1t was n triumphal walk with
my catch. up the long clay road and into
the front yard-why don't they have
such front yards nowadays?' he solilo-
quizcd. There is u fashion in country
front yards, imported from New Eng
land, | think. but it has extended
through New York, and, I've been told,
through northern Ohio and Michigan.
There was planl, or gravel wall, from
the gate up to the front door, and on
either side of the walk We're flowers
not such flowers as are raised now, but
old-fashioned tiowers-there was a sort
of recognized order for them. There
We're larkspurs and q bed of China asters
and then one of the old style Of pInks,
not dark or red, but pink in color, rs
they should be to deserve the name. next
t. great bunch of phlox. and then
dahlias. Up against the house would be
holly hooks. and between them. at their
feet, bouncing Bettys' and old hen and
Chickens Oh, l know those old-fash
ioned gardens Why arc not gardens
kept so now? But''-and here he sud
denly recollected himself and thought of
his surroundngs-''I haven't HAD bite,
and you've caught a lot more pickerel
I've got the same kind of frog on my
hook that You have. Why don't they
bite at him.? BY the way. there's
good frog for bait on that stump across
the creek See it, Doc:'
That's so,' said the Doctor; Il be-
leve if you had that fellow on your hook
the pickerel would bite"
I'm going to try to get him., said the
President, and he began to real in his
line preparatory to crossing the creek ut
n shallow place further up. The line be-
came taut though the President did not
at first notice it, his eyes being fastened
on the frog, until that little animal be-
gan to scramble and cling to his perch
for dear life, as if something were rull-
ing at him. The President in astonish
ment stopped reeling, and by coinci-
dence the frog appeared at peace again.
The President looked at his pole, then
along his line. then at the Doctor, then
back to the frog. A light dawned upon
him. He uttered n single word:
.'Jehosaphat