Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-08-26
MICKEY'S BROOK BASS.
BAIT ENOUGH FOR ALL THB PlsH In
JACOBS VALLEY.
The Picture Aicksy's Father Saw When Mickey Got
Bits-An Eel and q Mud Turtle and
AsBlly Goats Unexpected Feast

sBits-An Bel and q Md Turtle and
AsBlly Coats Unexpected Feast
Netg York Evenino Sum.
Mickey hav' ye tn wurrums?'' sail
Mr.. Finn
"I hav' tomaty can full of wurrum
an four big grasshoppers in bottle, an
tin grubs that found in rottin boord
and swim crickets an two cockroaches q
black as Goals an as big O. your thumb
an humble bee-shure pulled ont hi
stinger with tn tweezers-"
"Au, hoult on, sonny. Fax ye hav
enough " bait = catch all tn fish in
Jacobs Valley. Bring sll thin things in
here till we have . look at thin"
When Mickey had brought all his bot
ties and boxes into the kitchen and placed
them on the table they presented quite Q
formidable array. The crickets were con
fined in cigar box, and when be lifted
the lid to permit his father to have 9
glance at the bait, the crickets jumped out
upon the floor, and the tame crow showed
liking for cricksts which it never before
had exhibited. The worms proved to b
of the night-walker order. Mickey had
caught them by the aid of lantern as they
crawled through the grass Of Stumpy field
on the previous evening. The bumblebe,
escaped when little Mike took the cork ouI
of the bottle, and flew away to the clover
field near by. Said Mr.. Finn:
Eye may as we'll pull up one O. them
baue poles in the yard an fasten yer lint
to it, an go yell be ready for the mornin'
fur we'll be startin agin tn tonne tn sun
is up."
Early next morning, while the grass
was diamonded with dew, little Mike
and his father started up the Old
Point road. Mickey was heavily freight.
ed. He carried on one arm large market
basket which contained two cigar boxes
and various bottles containing bsit, both
solid and liquid. The latter was for his
fathers exclusive use. One of these cigar
boxes was filled with a varied assortment
Of fishing tackle, including q number OF
rusty screws for sinkers, Goldfish hooks
stuck into a cork, an old chalk line, five
soda water bottle corks, aud number OF
other articles which the boy in his iguo-
rance deemed necessary for fishing in a
country brook.
After leaving Old Point road the way led
down little lane where a brown thrush
sang solo in tree and o golden oriole
fitted across the lane and uttered liquid
ITnAan kha fraa xDhara thu nrinla
sang in q field filled with cocks of new
mown hay there bubble little spring.
The water came up through the sand OF
the bottom Of the spring and shifted 1t like
drops of quicksilver. Lying down at full
length the fishermen put their mouths
down to this living spring and drank deep
draughts. Twas natures own champagne
There was life in the water. The san had
kissed the spring and the sweet scent Of
hay stole into it. Somehow Mickey didn't
appreciate the water as much as his father
did. He said he would rather have glass
Of root beer anytime.
When the brook was reached the sun had
gained its meridian, but its rays could not
penetrate the dense foliage on the banks
overlooking the water. In these cool pools
swan sunfish with golden scales and brook
bass, which resembled bars Of FURNISHED sill
yer as they flashed their cleaning sides in
the sunlight. Mickey was so eager 10 drop
the line in the water that he could scarcely
put worm on his hook. At last the tackle
was all ready, when a six-inch front, look
ing almost translucent in the clear water,
came swimming up the stream. 1t stopped
almost opposite where the hoy stood, lazily
tanning its dorsal and veutral fms. Said
Mickey, with parted lips and bated breath:
Keep still, dad! Wait till you see me
haul i'm outW
Slowly the hook sank beneath the sur
face, and the worm, in all its squirming,
Juicy plumpness, rested on the sand before
the nose of the trout. The two held their
breath and waited developments. The
front slowly backed away from the worm
for distance Of one foot, then it moved
forward and smelt of the bait. There was
moment of intense suspense, and Mickey's
pole shook az though it had the palsy.
Then the trout darted like beam of sun
shine into a shadowy place beneath the
bank. Mickey's disappointment was great,
but he choked il down and said, with al
most sob in his voice:
dad, almost had 'im!"
EYES," replied his father; "but you
didn't have any salt on his tail that time,
me lad; thry sgin."
Then Mickey's father lay down upon
the grass on the banks Of the stream and
went to sleep. He had just entered the
borders of dreamland when he was awsk-
ened by q shout which echoed like fire
alarm in the vale. He sat up and listen
I'd. Again he heard the shout and distin-
guished these words:
dad, got bite"
Mickey's father plunged into the under
brush and forced his way through the over
hanging branches OF the trees to the place
where the sound came from. He had not
gone twenty feet, however, before cry 70
jubilant, 80 full Of triumph, 30 distinct
with the passion of possession, came to him
that he knew ut once something important
had occurred Looking through the aisles
of the wood he saw Mickey lying upon the
trunk of big tree which projected out
over the stream. In order to maintain his
position he had to hang on with one hand
ana Win the Quiet nc utiu uih tUu. hBhu
he cried in sgitated tones:
"Golly. dad, my dobber's under"
"Pull up, sonny! Pull up"
Mickey did pull up, and dangling from
the end Of his line was brook bass about
Ave inches long. But Mickey was In such
a position that be could not land his fish,
Aud 90 be hugged the Tree and palpitate6
and psrspired and managed to lift the fish
lust 30 far out OF the water that its tail
touched the swinging current
The picture was such . pleasing one to
Mickey's father that he stood hidden BY
the foliage and watched his boys dilemma
for at least two minutes before he went to
the rescue. Then he slid down the bank
and held Mickey 40 that be could land the
fish himself, which was accomplished 10 q
very careful manner for fear that il might
escape. But when it lay upon the grass
and grasped for its native element there
was DO touch of pity in Mickey's heart;
only look of triumph in his eyes, only an
itching Of the fingers until he could clasp
bic prize. For fear that the Ash might get
away Mickey put it into his trousers pocket.
where il remained securely for five houm
what q dav that waaI craunued full m