The Penn's Grove record., 1888-10-20
MR.. BACSHOT'S TRIP.

Mr.. Bagshot informed his landlady,
one day, that he intended going on an
excursion for a few days to fish and
shoot by his native river; and he had
boosted much to the boarders of his
exploits by flood and fleld-was in fact
"a deuce of a fellow" among the finny
and ~feathered tribes.
He had long set his mind on this
excursion, and had made it IA theme of
conversation with his associates until
it had become a bore to them. They
were. rather glad at last when they
heard him tell his landlady that he was
going; and he mentioned the fact to
her because he needed her assistance in
preparation.
For a week beforehand he-was busy
in procuring fishing tackle and other
articles of your true srortsman's outfit;
and he was a perfect Wmkle as regards
externals. He talked wisely about
rods and flies, and reels and %creels, and
handled a gun-Of which he had several
AS though he were IA perfect master
of the art Of arms.
For a week he brought home with
him armfuls of parapllernalla, and his
landlady gave it as her opinion that for
an ''amatory sportsman" he was not
to be beat by m of the professionals.
at length he Informed her that he
was going the next morning, and asked
her to make him up a little something
for a lunch owe night, as he should
probably be off before she was out of
her nest.
I'VE sportsmen, Mrs. 5%Iullin," said
he, ''stand not on the order OF our
going. Like time and tide, VI move
when the occasion comes; and as the
train goes by here at three O'Clock,
like the early bird, l shall be up and
take it."
She smilingly went to the task of
preparing for his departure, and he
went out to finish his arrangements.
Have you got a dog?' said Bill
Simms, his quondam friend, as if the
question were a special inspiration.
"No."
swell, you ought to have a dog. If
I we're you l would buy that dog OF
Harvey's up here. He is a capital
hunter, and you car manage him lust
as easyl He refused twenty-five dollars
for him last week, but | eau get HIM
for fifteen. 1 can buy him Tor that,
and no sportsman should be without Il
dog"
neutrality-suspicious.. But really
I thought of only having Il little quiet
fishing and shooting, and not dong
anything elaborate, you know. Well,
/ don't care; 1t would seem more Ike
the thing, wouldn't it?"
Certainly. Well. III 20 right up
and bring him around to the house"
Bagshot mentioned the fact that he
was going away to such friends as lie
met, taking care to speak of his dog.
His steps brought him down by the
market, and as he went on, his friend
Brown, who keeps a fish stall hailed
him:
"Hello, Bagshot!' cried he; $50 you
are going out to shoot the fish and
hook the game, are you? You are a
lucky fellow to have the time. | can
not. BY the way, you are going down
by the Seawash river; why don't you
carry two or three of those live Holsters
for bait2 There's nothing better, aud
III send you something 10 take 'em
along in and keep lem alive"
Bagshot made a half refusal and
spoke of his flies.
"Flies be blowed,'' said Brown.
"Flies amt coed for anything in still
fishing"
"That's So" said Bagshot.
swell, l'Il fix two or three up. for
you and leave 'em at the depot as | go
by. A pleasant time to YOU"
Bagshot left him, and after laying
in extra hooks, Some slnkers, a book OF
new flies, a new knife, SIX fathoms of
cod line for a hillock, an additional
hair line, and other etcs., lie went
home. Mrs. Mullln met him at the
door, and he thought there was the
merest indication of a cloud upon her
usually placid brow.
81 like to please my boarders," said
she, 'Dut | can't say that l dote on
dogs much; to say nothing of their
being thrust upon one, so to speak, and
frightening the cat TIL every hair stood
on end, and the canary hasn't got over
it yet; when at last lac was got into the
wash.room, where he WAS making a
fine time Of it, with his bowling and
growing, till the whole neighborhood
is decomposed."
Bagshot, comprehending the situa-
ton, explained to her about the dog,
and then went to the wash-room, where
he found the cauiuelte in a state of
determined howl. He at first seemed
unwilling to establish an acquaintance
with his new master, but snarled at
him spitelully. Bagshot, however. by
dlnt of coaxing and a pound or two of
beef, brought him to terms, and went
to bed feeling a mlsgiying that Carlo,
the dog, would prove an elephant on
his hands.
Before retiring he had placed his
lunch IN "A convenient place, and ex
changed farewells and good wishes
with the landlady and the boarders.
He wished her a good nights sleep, but
it did not come to him. The thought
of that dog aud what he should do with
him haunted him like a nightmare.
He lay awake, hour after hour, count.
ing the imaginary sheep going over
walls, repeating the alphabet and mul
~tiplicatiOn table backwards, and resort
ing to all the plans to induce sleep he
had II about in the papers, but it
wouldn't come, until about daylight,
when he had Just resolved to get up
and 90 In tha daoot- he fell asleeD-