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

or shoot rife. and in the winter
months when the snow lay soft on the
hills and the clouds were as lead and
the air hollow I have locked myself
in my chamber and buried my head
in the pillows that might not hear
the glorious music of the hounds as
they raced noses breast high alter
tho flying game
Friend" said the trapper. 'ye
have done injustice to yer natur. that
fine natur the Lord give ye at birth.
and sold yer birthright OF happiness
for a mess OF miserable pottage 1e
have fed yer feelin's on husks when
the plenty and merriment oil yer
fathers house was open to ye. Here.
take the rod take the rod. ! say and
let yer old fingers feel the bcft OF 1t
and yer ears hear the whirr OF the
reel once more and the traPper
literally thrust the rod into the white
hand OF his hesitant companion.
But oh. the change that came TO
the old minister as mis- tapering fin
gers closed on the polished butt He.
fairly caressed the reel with his
white thin hands; his eyes lighted as
he poised it as for a cast; his form
Strengthened and his left foot was
pushed forward; a fine flush glowed
through the pallOr OF his check; he
seized the leader ami with a wide
sweep OF his hand drew a dozen yards
from the reel and laughed allow hap
Ply laugh at the singing thereof
Make a cast make a cast cried
the trapper. 'Lengthen the line
ana make a cast to the far edge of
the pool where yon bubbles be in
line. II the Lord sends ye the trout
he ought to send ye he will take
srenty yea frcrl ya- u,
bottom Of the river with him.
Then and there. on the ledge that
iuts into the Racquetts tide just be-
low the mouth OF the Cold river did
the church of Common Sense become
incarnate. As Ole Bull would stand
posed before the expectant thousands
when lie fled his bow so vibrant
erect graceful stood the old divine
ready for the cast In an instant
came the motion OF the arm. the turn
OF the wrist that all anglers know but
no words may describe and up went
the flies into the air few backward
and then shot straight out over the
whirling tide. Downward they aoated.
lighted like vagrant feathers amid the
bubbles and
Salvation screamed the doctor.
"A trout" A trout su h as is rarely
seen hung in the air three good feet
above the flies and the bubbles Tail
fat and big rs a single mouth open
belly red rs = stormy sunrise, fins like
q rain bow. the huge sides dotted with
shot Of reddest rose-sO hung. in full
sight for n moment above the dark
stream then fell with a mighty flash
aud was gone!
. Cast agin. cast agin at the same
spot and if he lifts strike quick and
strike hard in honor of the rod and
the pool and yer boyhood days and
be hanged to the Phsrisees" yelled
the trapper.
Oh. the cast that the old doctor
made and the answer that hashe.
from the depthsi The nervous old
wrist struck quick and struck true,
the twisted silk shrunk to the strain
and the water flew in fire mist from
the braids so strong was the stroke
and so heavy the fish. Then down,
downward he plunged. full Of force
full OF fire, a line breaker. red
smasher is he, and through the
,trong. swirling current he tears like
n sub marine bolt fred TO kill See
the line cut the waterl See the rod
sway and quiveri Hear the shrili cry
Of the reel see the old minister's face,
the flush OF the cheek. the CLEAN in
the eye the set look OF the mouth.
the white hair flying free. Then see
the great fish on the bank 1Ae two
white-headed men bending over it;
hear iteir laughter; see their clasped
hands; see the old divine fiiGC Z apsF-l
like the flourish that precedes the Jig
and the green balsams and pines. and
through their dark branches patches
and spaces OF blue sky. Can you not
see the picture and sketch you
brother angler that hangs in my
memory over the big ledge on the
Rac4uelte just below where the cool
current OF Cold River flows in.
Many things have we lost aud many
changes have come to me as to thee.
with the years. Faces which were
10 our eyes like stars to dark skies
have faded from sight; voices whose
greetings and farewells made music
to our ears sound no more. and hands
that clasp ours warm and true we in
the throng OF today reach for in
vain. seek and find not But the
rivers on which we boated. TIE lakes
where we camped the streams that
we fshed the hills and the mountains.
the lilies and wild roses the green.
trees the still lonely camps
that we made years ago-these we
see as Of old. These memory holds
dear aud hangs high in her hall and
dearer they grow as our heads get
white and our eyes grow dim, while
our sun reddens to its setting. and
that cleaning which we trust will
bring forth anew the sweet stars that
have faded as we sit hoping and
waiting comes silently on.-N. Y.