Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-01-07
Three Mr.,erInu. Bas..

.Another funny thing happened to
me the other day. this time up at
Lackawaxen," said John Gilbert. the
travelling groceryman. al was walt
ing there for a train, and. as by no way
that could figure IL could il get there
under three hours. 1 walked over 10
gaze on the Delaware l strolled up
and down the river bank q while. and
then noticed canal that crossed the
river BY q big viaduct walked up
the canal bank and watched the boats
TO by. They were loaded with coal.
Thirsting for information. | finally said
20 boy who came along on mule.
wearing his fathers trousers rolled up
TO his knees:
i" Where is this coal going TO. my
little manP"
".To market, popr ho replied.
Then / watched more boats. and
NOT being able TO still my longing for
knowledge, by and by said to a man
who was working the tiller Of one Of
the boats:
81 How many tons do you carryP
".As nanny, begorra, rs any other
boat that rooms this detchr
"Surfeited with Information i re-
turned to the river. walked up aud
down, and presently saw pine pcg.
which was driven in the sand near the
water. There was a string to 1t.
Wonder what that is?' said to
myself.
"Not being able to answer the ques-
ton went and pulled the peg out of
the sand. The string came out OF the
water pretty hard, and found that
three big black bass had got fast on it
in some way through the gills. There
was no mistake about it. There was
the peg, there was the string. and there
were the bass. alive and kicking.
Well l says, that's certainly the
funniest thing ever did see.'
II had heard of eels travelling over
land from one pond to another; perch
that climb trees were old acquaintance
of mine; catfish that swear at you like
troopers when you take them from the
hook l had seen and heard But bass
that could come out of the water, string
themselves like these. shove the peg in
the sand, and get back in the water
again, was more than / could explain.
When go back home and tell this,
says, people won't believe me, and
then I'll feel bad.'
80 looked around to see if there
was any one that could enlighten me
on this curious circumstances. l saw
NO one but pious-lookiRg old gcntle'
man, who was fishing along the river
quite o way below. As he was SO in
tent on his sport that he seemed obi
yious to all around him, didn't like
to disturb him in his gentle recreation
and SO walked back to the hotel an,
told the landlord that lie might cool
the bass for my supper. He did, ane
they were good. After supper l wen
down to get the train. There was ;
pious-looking, white haired old gentle
man there, with dshpole on hi
shoulder. He seemed to be very mad
As got on the train heard him say:
a. Yes, sir, by the jumping jimminy
Three old sockers, and III give Sc t
know what in--- became of 'em!
:" That man amt as pious as h
looks. 1 said as the train pulled out
And then the thing struck me all of
sudden, and | said I'd bet anythn!
that the white-haired old man ha,
found some bass that had strung them
selves just as mine had, and then he''
gone and lost 'em some way or other.
4'Say, don't it beat the Old Harr
how these funny things will keep hap
pening to me?"-M. y. san.