The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-12-19

of its greatness. We pressed our en-
tertainer for particulars, such rs
length. weight and breadth and was
referred to his kitchen table which
was not many miles away. Finally,
upon further pressure he said it was
as large az a hand saw anyway.
but -, don't YOU go off and say il
was big rs cross. cut saw" What
will Dick Browning and Gus Delaw-
der say to this reality? To be candid
and reliable McuGffin was questioned
and he confirmed the story that no
such trout had ever been seen before.
We ourself once helped to capture a
trout 20 inches in length in a drained
mill dam. 1t was as beautiful in
color and shape rs one Of the Ordi-
nary size. But none such for many
years past.
Then comes Joseph. the most m
during of them all. If he ever done
any harm the world never knew it.
In his latter years he became Dun.
kard preacher, not learned one, but
sincere. shade superstitious, but a
little of it helps the faith. Joe, in
his worldly days. liked the forests
too, and never cared for bad weather
when the "buck fever" seized him.
Holmes Wiley great Nimrod in his
day. as well as joker, told this for
fact: On mild February day. the
ground covered with soft snow, he
came upon a strange and unknown
track in the woods. What could it
be? A new animal growing the
woods ?" Hot pursuit was made at
once. Here and there would be
found an impression in the snow as
large as the bottom of a bucket. The
speed was increased and after long
chase the animal was 0vartaken-
nothing more or less than Joe, bare
footed. The impressions in the snow
were made by his standing on his hat
to warm his feet. His mecca 'ins
were no doubt out of repair. Wiley
admitted in al! his rambles he was
never SO badly beaten. 1t was no
Use to swear. as Justice could not be
done to such Disappointment.
The educated member of the family
is Henry Thomas, son of William,
once school commissioner Of the
county, lately a candidate for the
Legislature, and now or recently
postal clerk on the P. & e. r. r.
This family is fair type of the old
time life. The seven brothers. when
growing up, were like the rest of
people, shy and tin,id. almost ready
to escape through the throat ola wide
chimney upon the approach of a
stranger. All of the seven are dead
except one. now very aged and in
firm. The record of this quaint fam
lily for peace. quiet and good citizen
ship is good. They were all strang-
ers to court proceedings. especially
the criminal department.
Just here( where a conclusion might
well he mlade) an amusing incident
in our own uneventful life is recalled
at different scene. A long while
ago, in our closing teens, we were a
local deputy under most worthy
leriff of old AI!egany Co. One day
while abroad mot officially we APP
p'oached dwelling from the front
in the then style of a log house. The
youngsters within of both sexes dis
covered the advancing stranger. 10
cpne out the oaty doorway would
bring them in the immediate pres
ence of the one causing their fright.
A side window was hoisted and out
they all tumbled en- naGsse, and such
leaps and strides were never seen be-
fore. and in almost no time they
were under cUyer in the woods: no
more to. be found than so many
young pheasants, though they were
not wanted" to use modern term.
The house reached, lone lady was
found who appeared to be under
some kind of restraint and evidently
was endea v0ring to conceal some.
thing with her skirts. The curiosity
of the young man ran very high to
know what might be there. All
manner of fair strategies were en-
plOyed in AN unoffending manner to
discover the object so carefully guar.
ded and 10 and behold there was an
old-time cucumber sugar trough with
a babe in it of very tender age. Great
establishment WAS expressed with an
exclamation. live babe sure as fate !!
The grum answer Was, Ibid you
think rs it Was dead one?" Oh!
did not think it was babe at all.
Many apologies were made to the
moro,e lady, urging that allowances
be made for the young who are
anxious to learn lessons OF worldly
matters. The dry answer was, "yOu