The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-06-23
A BORN FISHERMAN.
StMBO'S SUCCESS ON THE WHARVES
CT SOUTHERN SEAPORTS.

The Rewards of Patiencc-The Favorite
Grazing Place of Catfish-A Wild Scram-
BILE on the Wharf.-The Negro as an
Ansler-Green Turtle and Gopher
Success in fshing-star fishing, ut least
demands either patience or extreme lahl-
ness The negro is highly accomplished IN
both In them he lives and moves anu mas
nis being. The negro is more patlent even
than the mule. 1t is the patience OF l2nor-
snce, o. the ignorance of patience. WIZ
ness his long years OF silence under slavery.
Had he not been so. the lanl would nave
teen red with blood long years before MS
toric 'Gl. But the negro then was usuauy
happy and cont9nted All MS Pnysicai
wants We're supplied. He had no cares, anu
his mentality was so vague ana unuenneu
that it did not bother him much LazlnesS
is the mother Of patience, and the god
mother of the negro. Give Samoo a pole
and line, pocketful of worms or indlsposed
beef, q sunny nook along the river, or on
the wharf, and for the time being ne W!ll
thank the COOL Lord for nothing else. his
favorite fishing place in Florida is from the
wharyes that line the St John S river
FROM HIS COlrS OS NANAhNF-
The wharf is Sambo's throne, and from
this coign of vantage he hurls his we'll
hooked line into the water. The river at
jacksonville is a universal cesSpooL Here
are thrown all tho garbage and oHal of the
market residuRE1 os restaurant and saloon,
SOP of boarding house, and here is the
1avorite grazing place OF the catfish. laik
NOT of the pompano, the trout, or the bass
II SQmDO
His affections are centred on the cat The
aipht of one of them makes his mouth open
to its fullest extent, and the longing red
tongue reach nearly around to the back Of
his ears 1t calls up toothsome dishes to his
exotic mind. Catfish stew Cut tho fish in
small pieces, plenty Of water, pinch OF
salt, some sweet potatoes from your neigh
boris "bank"-they are best gathered ut
miinicht-a pone of corn bread, and what
more does the colored epicure require:
Baked catfish. TaAe bull cat, the larger
the better, dress Linn carefully, stuff his
ample bosom with onions and corn meal
mixed with syrup, and flank it with si'le
dish OF blue collards. When Sambo and his
family sit down to this feast the door is
locked and there is no admittarce until the
postprandial pipe.
tiful, if not dainty, supply of food, these cat
fish grow to immense size. and attain
weight of from ten to fifty pounds The
average along the wharvss is about fifteen
pounds. After Sambo has caught one OF
these largo dandies Of the deep lie IS not
particular as to whether he catches another
one that day or not Sufficient unto the day
is the evil thereof, also the Good-to him.
-laI
warm and inviting. He feels its genial
rays penetrating all tho nerves and tissues
of his being. The monotonous lap OF the
waves against the piers invites to slumoer
So, tying the line to his big toe, which looks
like the head of a loSgerhead turtle, he falls
over on his back and is soon fast asleep.
Gradually his slumbcr becomes moro pro-
found. His mouth open. ani remains in
that position 1t is invaded by an army OF
of flies, green, b.ue, and black. Curious
flies they are, too. They examine each sep
arate tooth carefully and leisurely. Some
take observations from the upper tongue,
othors venture as far as the palate. One
more reckless than his brethren becomes
entanyled in the tonsils, AMI, wrapping the
drappery OF his couch about him, lies down
to peasant dreams
WILD SCRAhbLE ON lhE NHAhrs
Meantimes under the turbid waves Of the
mighty river strange scene is being en-
acted. an immense catfish is out for stroll
on the watery boulevard. lie moves gen.
teelly along. His tail vibrateS to and fro.
His fins make gentle ripples in the deep.
Suddenly he stops and backs water. There
are traces of indeciSion on his expressive
countenance. Right before him is curved
something which may or may not be good
to eat Curiosity gets the better of him
He draws near. He touches it with his nose
1t smells good. He tastes it 1t tastes good
He gulps it down. feels the cruel barb and
away he goes There is wild scramb o on
the wharf. Overheard goes Sambo thus
rudely awakened from his slumber. He is a
fine swimmer, as nearly oil negroes are, and
soon reaches the wharf again. He hauls in
his line, and grins rapturously as he sees the
huge fish A half hour in the sun dries his
clothes, and home he goes with two days IA
tions dangling Gy his side.
Sambo is born fisherman. He knows
the habits o: the flnny tribe as well as he
knows the way to Squire Johnson's hen
roost. He has male study Of pisciS-al-
though he don't call it that-from boyhood
up He knows where the Dream lurk and
grow fat in season He can follow the
trout unerringly to its lair The croaker
and the perch can not hide their trail from
him. The ratures of all fish are more IA
lni!iar to him than his Own. The mystery
of the waters is to him an open book. He
is not only fisher OF fish. but OF turtle,
too He knows where the soft shell hides
in the tangled roots and Grasses The
green turtle, dear to the palates of all true
epicures, belongs to him by right Of con-
quest The los,gerhead is his sworn brother,
conscnting even 10 he sold into bondage.
lie knows where abidcs that huge land tur-
tie, the gopher, and a long pole with Il hook
at the end quickly brings it to tie surface.
Can there be anything better than bow!
of gopher stew hot and steaming from the
fire: think not. Had Luvulus stuck to
that he might have been alive now. If
Sambo has good domestic wite he will
deal very generously with her. lie will
allow her to cultivate the little patch of
garden, to furnish the bacon and the meal
with tn. shekels she ca: ms at the wash tub,
Iut he will always see that tho table is sup
pied with the finest fish that swim.-Uam-
ilton Jay in New York Sun.
Tho son of Ix-prcsidcnt Tyler.
One Of tho most striking figures seen in
Washington is tue son OF exIresi,,en JUha
Tyler. lie is now an Old man bent with
weight of years. His long, white, ratri-
aryhai beard sweeps down from his rencr-
able face, neal IL covering his broad breast.
He wears n soft hat s!ouched Well down
over his deeply set ewes ami is dressed gen