San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1892-11-11
HIS LAST TROUT.

HIS LAST TROUT.
Cold river was rising and the grow
ing volume OF its food poured into
the Racquetie with swirls and eddies
and strong rushing sounds. The bend
Of the greater river received the
whirling waters and joined them to
its own strong current which spun a
mighty eddy from bank to bank On
the great rock at the edge OF the pool
stood the trapper in one hand his
rod, in the other his landing-net
while q large trout patched the gray
rock with its glorious color at his
feet
He'll weigh ihree pounds eff he'll
weigh az ounce. said the trapper. as
I his eyes rested admiringly on the
catch. and the thickness of him
shows he's had good feedin. The
Lord puts the same cOlors into rain
! bows and stormy sunrises but no.
( where else as ! conceit. But how he
ean pat so much o. the glory OF the
upper world into the cold depths OF
the lower and keep il all aglow there
is more than ] can understand Vie
one fish be enough. continued the
old man reaectively. as he scanned
the whirling water as If longing to
make one more cast 4 sartinly be-
iieve the one that rose fust was q
pound heavier Than this one but one
/ 6sh be enough for a christian man.
especially ef he be shaped and colored
as this one is. and the old trapper
proceeded TO gather his flies and his
/ reel
/ il was then that his ear caught the
sound o. a step coming down the trail
| towards the rock on which he stood
a soft quiet leisurely football as OF
one who stroIls errandless onward
unhurried by duty and wrapped per-
chance in grave or pleasant medita-
ton. In a moment a man o, ven
cradle appearance came TO the edge
OF the river and eazed in placid con-
temptation at the swirling stream.
| lie was tall in stature and spare as TO
bis habit His face had the scholars
| paleuess and his shoulders the schol-
ar's stoop In one hand he carried
small volume and in the other a spray
Of cedar he had evidently plucked
from some over hanging bough as he
came down the trail He was dressed
in a suit Of black cloth and mis- neck
tic was as spotessly white as his
linen A olcse-htting skull cap of
velvet restei on his snowy locks
He spied the trapper and approach
ing him said in a finely modulated
tone: II am not mistaken this is
John Norton the trapper?'
'-Yis I be John Norton replied
the old man. and have trapped n
good deal Of and on in the last sew
enty year And who be ye2"
j an q Clergyman said the 9TH
sr, pleasantly and in the city
where I preach they call me the Rev.
Dr. Davenport
lie held out his hand in a formal
but courteous manner.
The latter took tue pale thin hand
in his own strong palm and shook i.
heartily. saying:
i am glad TO see ye face to face
and nigh by. reverend sir. for re-
member hearing ye four summer
agone up at st Regio Ye was
preaching from a text Woe be to ye
Pharisees and though l couldn get
into the parlors owing 10 the crowd
OF city folks that filed them. and had
10 hear what | did through q winder
yit I managed TO git 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 vsgabouds that steal
an honest trappers skins in the
woods and have spent a good deal
Of powder and lead in edicatin' the
knaves toward Righteousness when I
have ketched them pilferin' on the
line Of my traps
We'll well!" exclaimed the old
doctor evidently pleased that his
companion had heard him deliver one
Of his most celebrated discourses and
so warmly approved it We'll. well!
am glad TO meet you and kat may
almost call you one OF my parishion-
ers. John Norton and the doctor
rubbed his white. thin hands together
and laughed decorous and good
natured little laugh
i don't know as / ketch the full
meanin Of yer words " responded the
trapper .sor / have never been
taught in the churches OF the settle
ments and know leeue OF their agree
meuts or their differences but sar-
tiDly conceit that We had the right OF
il techia' them Pharisees aud that
YOU and ] viii stand side by side in
the day OF jedgment and tell the Lord
what we know OF their divilments.
whether they lived 4 Thousand year
ago in JUDGE or was sneakin' round
the woods here when / was on the
arth"
Good gracious screamed the
doctor where did that monstrous
trout come fromg'
From the Lord. parson; yls.
straight from the Lord - answered
the trapper promptly. AS straight
as a brown hucs.e uine-loot leader
an old bamboo rod and a good grip at
the butt Of the rod could bring him.
10 you know how 10 make a cast for
a four FOUNDER yerself parson?n
No nor' exclaimed the old doctor
OF divinity. That is, he continued
1T is long years since ! have allowed
myself to touch a rod or gun. Tor
fear OF the consequences
Consequences" returned the
rappeE i don't understand yet
No / know you cannot replied
the other How can a man OF your
manner OF life understand it, But a
man Of ny calling trapper should
not even have the appearance OF evil
or allow himself 10 fall into the least
semblance OF worldliness much less
10 allow the pleasures OF this world
TO fasten their grip upon him and as
a young man ! was excitsble-very
scitable-and I loved to shoot row
and fish. loved the sports OF blood
and field as they are called. Yea