Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-09-29
THE LAST TROUT.

III,
which spun mighty eddy from bank to
bank. On the great rock at the edge of
the pool stood tie trapper, in one hand his
rod, in the other his landing net, while a
large trout patcAed the gray rock with it's
glorious color at his feet.
He'll weigh three pounds eff he'll weigh
an ounce" said the trapper as his eyes
rested admiringly on the catch, land the
thickness of him shows he's had good feed
in. The Lord puts the same colors into
rainbows and stormy sunrises, but no.
where else, as conceit. But how he can
put so much of the glory of the upper
world into the cold DEPTHS of the lower
and keep it all aglow there is more than
can understand. lis, one fish be enough, !"
continued the Old man refectively as he
scanned the whirling water as if longing
to make one more cast. 81 sartinly believe
the one that rose fust was pound heavier
than this one, but one fish be enough for
Christian man, especially eff he be shaped
and colored as this one is" and the old
trapper proceeded 70 gather his flies to his
reel,
1t was then that his eur caught the sound
OF a step coming down the trail toward
leisurely football, as of one who strolls
errandless onward, unhurried by duty and
wrapped perchance in grave or pleasant
meditation. In a moment a man Of vener-
able appearance came to the edge of the
river and gazed in placid contemplation at
the swirling stream. He was tall in stature
and spare as to his habit. His face had the
scholars paleness and his shoulders the
scholars stoop. In one hand he carried
small volume and in the other a spray of
cedar he had evidently plucked from some
overhanging bough as he came down the
trail. He was dressed in suit of black
cloth, and his necktie was as spotlessly
white as his linen. a close fitting skullcap
Of velvet rested on his snowy locks.
He spied the trapper, and approaching
him said in a finely moduiated tone, IF |
am not mistaken this is John Norton, the
trapPerI"
"Yis, be John Norton" replied the old
man, and / have trapped a good deal off
and on in the last seventy year. And who
be ye'"
81 am clergyman" said the other
pleasantly, "and in the city n here preach
they call me the Rev. DR.. Davenport"
He held out his hand in a formal but
courteous manner.
The latter took the pale, thin hand in
his own strong palm and shook it heartily,
saying:
II am glad to see ye face to face and
nigh by, reverend sir, for | remember
hearing We four summers agone up at st.
Regio. Ye was preaching from text,
Woe be TO We Pharisees,' and though /
couldn't git into the parlors owing to the
crowd of city folks that filled them and
had to hear what did through a winder,
yet managed to get the line of yer talk,
and the way ye warmed them Pharisees
made me feel comfortable in my mind,
for the Pharisees Of the Scriptur' be very
like the thievin half breeds and vagabonds
that steal an honest trapper's skins in the
woods, and j have spent a good deal Of
powder and lead in edicatin the knaves to-
ward righteousness when have ketched
them pilferin on the line of my traps"
well, wellp' exclaimed the old doctor,
evidently pleased that his companion had
heard him deliver one of his most cele-
brated discourses and so warmly approved
it. well, WE'LL / am glad to meet you
and that / may almost call you one Of my
parishioners, John Norton" and the doc
tor rubbed his white thin hands together
and laughed decorous and good natured
little laugh.
81 don't know as / ketch the full meanin
of yer words, +" responded the trapper, "for
have never been caught in the churches
of the settlements and know leetle of their
agreements or their differences, but sar-
tinly conceit that ye had the right of it
techin them Pharisees, and that you and
will stand side by side in the day of
Judgment and tell the Lord what we know
of their divilments, whether they lived
al ~.
sneakin around the woods when was on
the arth."
Good graciousr' screamed the doctor,
"where did that monstrous trout come
fromY"
From the Lord, parson; yis, straight
from the Lord,' answered the trapper
promptly. "As straight as brown hackIe,
a 9-foot leader, an old bamboo rod and
a good grip at the butt of the rod could
bring him. Do you know how to make a
cast for Il 4-pounder yerself, parsonp
mo, nor exclaimed the old doctor of di-
vinity. ''That is, " he continued, ut is long
years since have allowed myself to touch
a rod or gun for fear Of the consequences.
Consequences" returned the trapper.
don't understand ye."
mo, / know you cannot" replied the
other. How can a man Of your manner
of life understand itp But man OF my
calling, trapper, should not even have the
appearance of evil or allow himself to fall
into the least semblance or worldliness,
much less to allow the pleasures of this
world to fasten their grip upon him, and
as young man was excitable--very ex-
citable-and loved to shoot and row and
fish, loved the sports of blood and field, as
they are called. Yea, trapper, l loved
them like sinner, and so, to avoid even
the appearance of evil and overcome the
riotous motions Of nature within me,
broke away from all the exercises that
we're so wildly exciting and Joyous TO my
nature, and"-and here the old doctors
voice shook-'it is forty years since this
hand has grasped rod or this finger put
its pressure on a trigger"
Heavens and 'arthr' exclaimed the trap
per. "What a useless life ye must have