Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-11-22
A CLOSE SHAVE.
BY L. VI. THOMSON.
30

hHOWn Canaulin lawyer told the follow
ing story:
''Somc years ago, while out for an
afternoons fishing with my son Harry,
who was thon ten years old, anchored
our skill off the northeast or lower end
Of GomcSuk island, where ono divs ion
Of the ST. lawrence runs in deep
groove, much frcqnontcd by channel
catfish.
steamers seldom plsscl through tho
channel where wo iloatcd, though The
wash of upward bound boats dlsturbs
the surface slightly as they swing half
around, about three hundred yards
down river, to enter tho southern and
straightcr, though shallowcr, channel,
which most pilots prefer.
Harry found tho occasional rocking
by steamboat waves pleasant varia-
ton from tho scarcely prcccptiblc mo-
ton with which VIC drinod-only one
of our sixty-pound weights being out
as Il bow anchor-against !hc centlo
current, under the pressure CT breeze
up stream. The sharp stern of the ski
hoa,cd free, and. ri ling with forty feet
OF line out, she swuycd from side Ia
SIDE of the deep water which never
furnished ne with better sport than on
that day.
"rno big, dun backed, yellow
bcl!ied, strong, clean, ten,accd fish
tock my minnows eagerly, and fought
In highly satisfactory m,nacr for their
own iivc-. So it went Oh, till Harry.
who had come out with emphatic AZ
scvcratlons that ho would gladly fish
till midnight, disclosed kcencr en-
thus iasm for something to eat about
tca-tlmc than hc did about the fish |
was catching, and often inquired aax-
ionSiy Wien intended going home.
Il fingered, however, for Just one
mere bite, talking four fish by the de-
lay,-ti!l the sun sank slowly behind
the island. thin glancing under my
eyebrows at Harry while STOPPING to
'mpalc new minnow, his WOO -beconc
little face gave mo moro distinct
thrill of conjunction, and. fin ging
away tho bait, said: We'll, small
boys mustn't he made too hungry.
suppose. We will go homo now,
Harry
al WAS rather astonishcd that his
face, which had frightened with my
words. suddenly cloulcd, as he looked
kccnly down the RIVER. Then tho ex-
PLANTATION came.
oh. there's another steamboat
coming up, fa,hcrn he cried DO stay
II little longcrl wish you would stay
till wo get her swell
at was To me n striking illustration
OF how curiously and wonder ully bows
are made. Here was lad too hungry
to enjoy the deep and p.iilo'ophic pleas.
nre OF fishing, but not hungry enough
TO iorcgo an ob5urd deigh. in being
rocked by a half dozen steamboat
rollers! However, his request conceded
with my inclination, and, putting on n
new bait, engaged again in the most
soul-satsfyny OF human pastimc,.
Il sat in tn, bow, with my face up
stream, larry watching, with big eyes,
the oncoming steamer, the intermittent
rumble Of whose paddle wheel became
m"mcntarly more distinct, till tho slap
and. thrust of each float could be heard
close behind. Suddenly my little boy
jumped up and excln mcl in q tone Of
much surprise:
Why, father, look at tho steam.
boat
al turncl to see in tho twilight the
big. white Theban, not three hundred
ynrls distant, not swinging into the
south channel, but coming, at about
half speed. straight at where we lay
''Dazcd, sat silent for moment;
Then roarcd at her, 'Ahoy, Thcban.
ahoy" with all my power Of lung,
searching M pockets at the same tim.
Tor my clasp-knl to Gu. the anchor
rope There was no time TO haul in the
weight; 10 cut away was tho only chance
Of escape.
''lhc channel of the river, as knew
well, was too narrow for the big boat
to give us moro than the narrowest
berth, and there was no sign that her
pilot intended TO yield lis any. | could
see him dimly in the wheel house. and.
apparently, not another sou. was on
board
"She did not slow down in the least.
though continued TO yell madly. Tie
roar oil her paddle wheels was terribly
loud
"lIarry's childish treble shrieked
through my hoarsc shouts bu. there