Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-09-10
GOOD JOKE ON The BOYS.

'Pull-pull! There's big snake ahead
of US! A little stronger on your left oar.
Pull, yon beggar! Let's catch him" cried
Mr.. Tom johnson, hauling his trolling line
in hand over hand and nodding his head
frapticalIy to indicate the whereabouts of
the reptile. Mr.. William Acornick, who
was doing the rowing, turned his head over
his shoulder and gazed ahead.
"It's not snake-its stick" he said
contenptuously, but increased the force of
his strokes.
"Bosb! A stick! Who ever saw stick
run like that? A stick with mouth on it,
and forky tongue going in and out! Bosh!
Who ever saw stick racing along with a
wake behind ii? It's a big water snake,
tell you! Why don't you pull? Pull!
Gracious! he'll get ashore if you don't"
"Well, s'pose be does. What harms he
doing? Did he ever say anything against
either of US? Hasn't a snake as good right
to live as you or mep"
ooh, coDfound your chatter, Acornick! |!
Pull! Let's get close up to him anyway.
That'l be some sport" And Mr.. Acor-
nick pulled, but with many protestations
that it was mighty mean thing to hurry
up snake that wasn't doing anybody a
particle Of harm.
This was On Georgian bay in July, in the
early morning of what promised to be a
broiling day. Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Acor
nick we're the r'big two' of party of
campers at Governors island, some ten
miles out of Penetanguishene. They were
both fa+ and forty, or more, and both so
fond of fresh fish that they got out every
morning at "sun up'' to take few bass or
pickerel-a duty that would otherwise have
I~aN Io1- b., &c h. H.,
younger men. But sthe boys" slept on,
slyly calculating on the two ''old boys"
turning out regularly to provide fresh fish
for the morning pan.
One of the most entertaining perform
ances of each long day was furnished by
Acornick and Johnson when they landed
with their morning take. Stalking with
the dignity of achievement up to the big
sleeping tent, they, all unaware that "the
boys" had been ''peeking" at them through
the sides of the flap, would indignantly fling
open the front and snort in contemplate the
outstretched and blanket covered forms.
"Well, of all the lazy pscksr' would
Acornick cry, while the boys, with faces
hidden, stuffed the blankets into their
mouths to keep from laughing.
'LazY" echoed johnson. "Lazy! They'd
starve--they'd do worse-they'd cat bacon
three times day if We didn't catch fish for
'em."
"It's confounded shame" would Acor-
nick protest, sitting down on the edge oi
his camp bed and wiping the Precipitation
from his red brow. at makes me sick to
see young men without any life in 'em, any
spirit to get up any feeling for sport. An.
glers! you call yourselves anglersl Poohp'
"Why didn't you wake us up?' would
Jack Burritt inquire, with yawn.
"Wake YOU up! What wakes US up?'
snorts johnson.
"Hct coppers," suggested Jack.
"Gammon. won't speak for ,Acornick
but who ever saw me with hot coppers. Be
sides there's not baen drop of liquor 1
this camp. Catch me bringing liquor into
a fishing camp. No, sir. Perhaps we've
got some to use IS medicine?' That's a
shabby innuendo, Jack. what wakes mt
up then2' Why the sun, sir-the glorious
sun-the burst of morning. The desire tt
salute the day. Oh, 10 watch the mists a
they drift and linger-to gaze far into th,
purple distance-to behold the rose O
| dawn"
"Chariot of Ph@bus ascending, suggests
Jack.
"The morning, sir, Is the quintesence o
| tne Qay, puts IN ACOrnlcK. III iSCne Gay
BY the time you get up the dregs only ar
left. The sky is a monotony of blue. Th
sun glares in anger at the sluggard. say
what do you three fellows come out camp
| ing for, anyhow"
"To hear you two fat fellows poetizing, ,
says Jack, "to hear you blow about gettin!
up-as if anybody couldn't get up! l
makes you look unlike yourselves-posi
lively virtuous-for an hour or so ever.
forenoon"
"Turn out Of this, you abusive youps
dog" ciies Acornick, sezing the leg near
est him, and then, with much tumbling
kicking and laughter, the "old boys" woul
haul s'the boys" out of the tent. There tn
morning fish lay in beauty side by side o.
the brown rock. Then came the congratu
lations that constituted the old boys re
ward, that swelled their stout chests wit
pride and sent them out next morning, raj
or shine, to win the praise they affected
despise.
Turning again to look at the snake, Acol