Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-11-18
H Is LAST TROUT.

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 gre ht rock at the edge of the pool
stood the trapper. in one hand his
rod, in the other his landing-ne net,
while q large trout patched the gray
rock W It'll its glorious color at his
feet.
'ile' | weigh tire, pounds eff he'll
weigh an ounce" said the trapper. as
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
can put so much OF the glory of the
upper world into the cold depths of
the low er and keep it all aglow there
is more than l can understand. Yis.
one tis b be- enough" continued the
old man. reilectively. as he scanned
the whirling water rs ii longing TO
make one more cast u sartinly be-
lieve the one that rose fust was a
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 to gather his flies and his
reel.
1t W as then that his ear caught the
sound Of IL step coming down the trail
towards the rock on which he stood -
soft Auiet leisurely football. as OF
one who strolls erraudless onward
unhurr4 ed by duty and wrapped per.
chance in grave or pleasant medita-
ton. n ii moment man o. ven.
cradle appearance came to the edge
of the river and gazcd in placid con-
temptation at the swirling stream.
lie was tall in stature and spare as to
his hab lit His face had the scholars
paleness and his shoulders the schol-
ar's stoop In one hand he carried Il
small volume and in the other IA spray
of cedar he had evidently plucked
from some over hanging bough as he
came d own the trail. He was dressed
in a suit OF black cloth and his neck
tie was as spotlcssly white as his
linen. A clcse-fitting skull cap OF
velvet rested on his snowy locks.
He spied the trapper and approach
ing him said in a finely modulated
tone: If l am not mistaken this is
John Norton. the trapper?"
'Yis, be John Norton. replied
the old man, and | have trapped a
good deal of and on in the last sew
enty ye ear. And who be YEP"
Il am clergyman. said the 9th
err, pleasantly. land in the city
where preach they call me the Row.
Dr. Davenport"
He h ED out his hand in formal
but courteous manner.
The latter took the pale. thin hand
in his wn strong palm and shook it
heartily saying:
Il am glad to see We face to face
aud nigh by. reverend sir. for re-
member hearing We four summer
agone up at st. Regio Yo was
preaching from text Woe be to yo
Pharisqes. and though | couldn't get
into tho parlors owing TO the crowd
of city folks that filed them, and had
10 hear what | did through Il winder
yit | m hnaged to git the line of yer
talk, and the way We warmed them
?harisaes made me feel comfortable
in my mind. for the Pharisees of the
Scriptur' be very like the thievin'
half. br eeds and vagabonds that steal
AN honest trappers skins in the
woods, and | have spent n good deal
of powder and lead in edicatin' the
knaves toward Righteousness when
have ketched them pilferin' on the
line of my traps"
We'll WE'LL" exclaimed the old
doctor. evidently pleased that his
companion had heard him deliver one
SO warmly approved it. We'll. we'll
| am g ad to meet you and that may
almost call you one of my parishion
crs, John Norton. and the doctor
rubbed his white, thin hands together
and laughed "A decorous and good
natured little laugh.
Il don't know as | ketch the full
meaniu' of yer words responded The
trappeE ''or have never beer
taught in the churches OF the settle.
ments and know leetle of their agree
mcnts or their differences. but sar
tiply cpnceit that ye had the right o.
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 II thousand year
ago in JUDGE or was sneakin' round
the woods here when i was on the
arth."
Good graciousn screamed the
DOCTOR where did that monstrous
trout C pine from9a''
'From the Lord. parson; yis.
straight from the Lord > answered
the ira pper promptly. las straie h,
as br own hackle. a nine foot leader.
an old bamboo rod and good grip at
the butt of the rod could bring him.
o you know how TO make cast foi
IL four FOUNDER yerself parson?"
No. no." exclaimed the old doctor
of divinity. That is. :" he continued
1T Is long years since l have allowed
myself TO touch a rod or gun. for
fear of the consequences.
4 onsequences?' returned the
rapper Il don't understand yet "
No ! know you cannot replied
the other How can man OF your
manner of life understand it, But q
man OF MY calling trapper should
not EVEN have the appearance OF evil
or allow himself 10 fall into the least
sembla nee OF worldliness, much less
10 alloy the pleasures of this world
"a fustbn THAR grin upou him aud az