The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-02-20
ANGLING ON SKATES.
BY J. r PENNINGTON.

Uncle Charley looked up from his pa
per ard laughed heartily at Harry anC
Willie as they came in the room, ant
held their fingers, red with cold. to the
bright, CHEEKY fire which burned in the
grat?.
why, boys" he said, has Jack Fros
mastered you so easily -
Yes, uncle" replied Harry, ventur
ing nearer the fire. I'VE of this climat,
cannot resist the cold like yon great
strong people of the North.
why, when l was your age, Harry,
could skate and coast and fish all day
and never complain of the cold
"Fish in the winter ? never hcart
of such a thing chimed in Willie, il
surprise.
'Ob, yes. And, to add to the novel,
of the amusement, we fished on skates
Tell us all about it, nncle,' asked
Harry, eagerly.
'lnstead of telling you, suppose WI
try it IN practical way tomorrow morn
| ing? presume the ice is strong enough
on the river"
That will be grand" exclaimed
Harry.
"But we cannot skate, uncle. utter
posed Willie
Il did not think of that. II pwever
see way out of the dilemma
"We., we will leave the arrangement,
to you, uncle"
Cncle Charley put aside his paper. anC
disappeared up stairs, presently return
ing, completely transformed as to dresE
| from 4 gentleman of leisure to a regular
working man.
Now, boys he said, : va.
| Ratchet, saw and some nails :
And as Harry and Willie FASTENED tC
obey his order, their minds were tiIleC
with all sorts OF ideas about winter fish
ing, and they could not tell what ear
pentel's tools had to do with catcl ira
fish.
''Oh, | guess he's going to make us
sled.' said Willie. ''ior he knows VT
cannot skate
"No, it cannot be that, for he wuull
| not walk two miles, when he can oct
lumber right here in the yard to build :
| sled with, replied Harry, thoughtfully
The two boys wondered how Uncle
Charley was going to catch fish with the
river frozen over, until the latterS le.
turn in the evening.
"Now for the sled said their uncle,
after supper was over "You see. will
skate along, and propel the sled cor
tanning You both in front of me"
BY the time tie sled was completed. il
was bed time, and Uncle Charley LETT his
work, with the remark:
It's rather rough. boys; bat it v iii
do tor the OCCASION
Before retiring. Jncle Char ley secured
a piece of white muslin two trt.t square,
a piece Of sharp steel. and two pieces ri
iron, weighing about four pounds apiece.
From a piece Of pine wood, he shaped
with a knife wooden dish. to .hr bot
tom OF which he fastened piece nt lead
anil in its back he tied piece Of strong
Irvine. All these he slowed e. relullv
away in bag, with the exception Of the
broomStick.
Harry and Willie wee up before tie
sun, and were Ovelhauling their fishing.
tackle when Uncle Charley entered the
room.
'Nou will have no need for that, b rs
| catch fish without hook or line
"Without hook or line" they both ex-
claimed, looking mp at tleir uncl. il
amazement.
"Why, certainly he langhingly r.
piled. In ...y country we catch great
many fish in winter, and rarely resort
to hook and line
"That is wonderful. Blu, isn't it Tin,
to go, uncle? See, the sun is now up
said Willie, impatiently.
incl" Charley placed the bag in front,
and the two boys on an elevated seat be
hind, and putting on his skates, away
they glided over the CLASSY surface.
On they went for a distance of nearly
two miles, when, presently, the party
halted in front of strange lnukir~
structure Of wood, built rp on the ic.
about twenty-five feet from the shore
The wonder of the boys increased as
they stepped from he sled upon the ice.
\ wv, boys said Uncle Charley,
"pening a small door in the frame, "crav
ill.,"
When the three were insi Ir, the door
was closed, and they we're i'll total dark
ness. Unce Charley stru"l, ml'ch, and
lit a snail lamp.
ThiS, boys, is what is known AS .
fisherman box, and is generally in use
on the great lakes of the West and
North.
the 'bcX' was built Of pine boards,
was four feet square, aud set upon the
ice on the river.
Uncle Charley now cut hole in the
ice, and shading his light, told the boys
to look IN. The water looked black
and gloomy.
That is not clear enough; but can
remedy that"
Next, he took from the bag the pieces
of iron and fastened them securely to
the broomstick, in one end of which he
had firmly driven the piece of stce. to
serve as spear.