The Meeker herald., 1892-11-12
HIS LAST TROUT.


the Racquette with swirls and eddies
and strong rushing sounds The bend
OF the greater river received tho
whirling waters and joined them to
Its own strong current which spun n
mighty eddy from bank to bank. On
the great rock at the edge OF the pool
stood tho trapper in one hand his
rod. in the other his landing net
while n large trout patched the gray
rock with its glorious color Mt his
feet.
Hell weigh three pounds Of he'll
weigh an ounce" said the trapper Us
his eyes rested admiringly on tho
catch. and the thickness of him
shows he's had good fecdin'. The
Lord puts tho same colors into rain
bows and stormy sunrises but no.
where else rs | 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. Iis
one fish be enough" continued the
old man, reiectively as he scanned
the whirllng water rs ii longing to
make one more cast u sartinly be-
lievc the one that rose fust was u
pound heavier than this one but one
fish be enough for Il christian man.
especially OF he be shaped and colorod
as this one is, " and tho old trapper
proceeded to gather his flies and his
reel
1t was then that his ear caught the
sound OF step coming down the trail
towards the rock on which he stood
soft quiet leisurely football. as OF
one who strolls crrandless onward
unhurried by duty and wrapped per
chance in grave or pleasant medita-
ton. In moment man OF ven
crablo appearance came to the edge
OF tho river and gazed in placid con.
temptation ut the swirling stream.
lie was tall in stature aud spare rs to
his habit His face had the scholars
paleness and his shoulders the schol-
ar's stoop, In one hand he carried Il
small volume and 10 the other n spray
of cedar he had evidently plucked
from some over hanging bough as he
came down the trail. He was dressed
in suit OF black cloth and his neck
tie was rs spotlessly white rs his
linen. a clcse-iittinE skull cap OF
velvet restel on his snowy locks.
He spied the trapper and approach
ing him said in n finely modulated
tone: III am not mistaken this is
John Norton. the trapper?"
'Yis l be John Norton. replied
the old man, and | have trapped a
good deal oil and on in the last sew
enty year. And who be ye?"
Il nm u clergyman. said the 9th :
or, PLEASANTLY. land in tho city
where preach they call me the Rev.
Dr. Davenport"
Ho held out his hand in formal
but courteous manner
The latter took the pale, thin hand
in his own strong palm and shook it
heartily saying:
Il am glad to see yo face to face
and nigh by. reverend sir for re-
member heart yo four summer
agone up ut 81. Kegio Ye was
preaching from u text Woo be TO ye
PharisceS and though l couldn't get
into the parlors owing TO the crowd
OF city folks that filed them, and had
to hear what did thro igh II winder
yit | managed to git the line of yer
talk. and the way We warmed them
Pharisee5 made me feel comfortable
in my mind. for tho Pharisees OF the
Scriptur' be very like the thievin
half. breeds and vagnbonds that steal
an honest trapper skins in the
woods and | have spent good deal
OF powder and lead in edicatin tho
knaves toward righteousness when |
have ketched them pilferin' on the
line of my traps"
.Well, WELT" 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. we'll!
/ am glad to meet you and that | may
almost call you one Of my parlshion-
crs. John Norton" and tho doctor
rubbed his white. thin hands together
and laughed decorous and good.
natured little laugh.
Il don't know as kctch the full
meanin' of yer words " responded the
trapper ','or / have never been
taught in the churches OF tho settle
ments and know leetle of their agree
mcnts or their differences. but l sar-
tiply conccit that ye had the right OF
1t techin' them Pharisees. and that
YOU and / will stand side by side in
tho day OF Judgment and tell tho Lord
what we know OF their divilmcnts
whether they lived n thousand year
ago in ,Judec or was sneakin' round
the woods here when | was on the
arth."
Good gracious"' screamed tho
doctor where did that monstrous
trout come from?
IRON tho Lord. parson; yis.
straight from the Lord. answered
tho trapper promptly. las straight
MS a brown hackle. nine-foot leader
nm old bamboo rod and good grip at
the butt of tho rod could bring him.
20 you know how to make a cast for
. n four FOUNDER yerself. parsonP'
No now exclaimed the old doctor
OF divinity. That is. Tho continued
lit is long years since have allowed
myself to touch rod or gun. Tor
fear OF the consequences
Correspondent returned the
rapper u don't understand yet "
No. / know you cannot replied
the other. How can man OF your
manner OF life understand itP But a
man OF my calling trapper. should
not even have the appearance oil evil
or allow himself TO fall into the least
semblance OF worldliness much less
to allow the pleasures OF this world
x.i, him and aa