The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-04-16

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j might, but, not starting the fish, he pu
4 on more power. Then, with terrifi,
pull, he lifted ten-inch trout out o
the water. The fish fairly shot ~
like a rocket, and, becoming de
tached from the hook. scared away
into the top of a Eastwood tree an(
came down rafting through thu
leaves and branches. The boy wa.
after it and had his head hammered tt
Jelly in moment, to prevent all dan
ger of its Topping into the water.
| knew then the boy would make fish
| erman, and SO he did. l had no peace
afterward if l did not take him on fire.
quent fishing excursions. lie would gel
SO tired on these trips that l would have
to bring him home on my back. He
became most enthusiastic. Why, he
even fixed up a place in the garden
where he kept sort of wormery. BY
| filling in spot with richer earth than
that in the garden he attracted the
worms to this place, and they gathered
in quantities. He always, as a conse-
quence, had good supply on hand. In
the hot summer months he would care.
fully water the spot. The roses and
verbenas in his mothers f1ower-bed
would wither and dry up but that
worms nest was always damp and
never neglected. 1t was treated nightly
to two or three pals of water. His
worms became the latest in the village
and he made them clean and strong BY
putting them in moss. There is moth
ing SO good rs moss in which to scour
worms and in which to keep them fresh
when taken long distances. When the
boy grew up, however, you could not
get him to touch worm. and he was
an expert fly-caster long before his
father.
''But 1 was about to tell you of my
experience with him in the Adiron-
dacks. l was going to Riverville to a
meeting of the Presbytery, and from
that point there was good road into
the North Woods, and as l had been
very busy in my own church previously,
l thought after the meeting l would
take a day or two in the woods on a
trout stream. Well. it was vacation in
the college, and the young freshman
thought he would go along, too. and
had no objection. Now. It was large
church in which the Presbytery was to
meet, and my turn to preach. 1t was
a special occasion to the people, as the
Presbytery did not meet often there;
besides, they had no pastor and were
hearing candidates Now l had re-
ceived hints that they wanted to hear
me preach before the time for the Pres
bytery came around. So prepared a
special sermon for the occasion and
wanted to make an excellent impress
sion. The church was bigger than my
own. and was considered a remarkably
good field. There were more than two
ministers in the Presbytery who wished
it was their turn to preach, and my al
ternate had written me saying he was
ready if | could not get there. But l
was ready.
swell. we reached the town Just at
night, and l was to preach in the even
ing. Feeling little tired lay down in
order to get a rest for the evening. and
the young man went out to look about
the town. l afterward learned that he
met former acquaintance, and that
they had agreed to go to a party. I'm
fortunately, the boy had only his fishing
boots with him. Stealing into my room
while was asleep, he took mine and
slipped out. When l awoke had just
time enough to get to the church, but
to my utter despair the boots were mis-
sing. was frantic, but there was no
time to lose, and my only alternative
was to put on my fishing boots-great
heavy-soled leather affairs, whose tops
Were SO stiff that could hardly get
my trousers over them. snatched up
my sermon and started for the church.
1t was packed with a fashionably dres-
sed audience. who looked with expec-
fancy as followed the brothers who
were to lead in the devotional exer-
cises up the aisleS. The members of
the Presbytery sat in the front seats.
But imagine my horror when
those boots came down clump,
clump on the floor. 1t was toS-
ture to me to hear them The foo ting
had sprung in the aisle and emitted a
hollow sound when stepped upon h,av-
lily. OF course, the entire audience was
silent; all that could be heard was the
sound of those boots. When reached
the pulpit my face was red, and drop: of
stood like bubbles on my
forehead. While they were singing The
hymns and a brother made a prayer, l
recovered myself partially, and, when
my turn came got up apparently as
cool as a cucumber amid the summer
dews. gave out the text in
a clear voice. and got off my first sem
tence in good shape. Then l warmed
to the subject, and, feeling that l
held the attention of every one present,
even to the choir above, grew quite elo-
quent for me. for my forte is not elo-
quent preaching, but rather in visiting
and keeping congregation together.
My sermon leaves were arranged in the
form of book. and turned them over
one after the other.
Every thing was all right until l
turned the twenty-second page. 1t was
just at the completion OF long period.
think must have turned
white, for instead of the black, inky
words. what did see but tangled wad
of artificial trout-flies. In packing my
valise my son had in his careless way
of throwing things about, placed these
flies in my sermon for safe-keeping I'M
til he had found his fiy-book.
l gave the page little shake so 1
could see the words, but in nv awk-
upset the book, and the flies
out on the cushion of the pull
pit desk and half dozen fell over the
front on the table below. To make it
worse one hip yellow Professor
caught on the cushion and
hung out in full view of
the congregation. Well, OF course a