The Republican journal., 1896-09-03
My First Big Togue.
BY HART L. wOODCoCK.

Inc open nre, ana stretching myself IN
dreamy comfort was soon lost in thought.
Dimly the Pickering freight illumined
the room, making doubly pleasant the
comfort of the place, while outside the
wind was bowling in wintry fury, piling
the drifts of fluffy Wilderness into fantas-
tic shapes. When one is warmly shelter
ed such evenings are conducive to idle
thoughts, and one soon loses himself in
the wide reaching realms of fancy: espec-
tally if one is perfectly comfortable and
ones cigar burns satisfactorily.
Under these conditions the mind goes
back lnstinctively 10 pleasant memories.
One stretches himself before the fire con-
graduating himself that his lot is cast in
pleasant places. Memories flock into his
mimi by pairs and dozens; near and past
experiences are most wildly portrayed.
preamiy glanced about me; my atten-
ton was arrested by the rods and nets
piled upon the antleIs above the mantle.
hat contrast the vision they conjured
up-ot pleasant days and tranquil nights
was to the condition of things out OF doors
on this clustering winter night: pleasant,
happy Gays, spent amid the shadows of
the grand old woods and upon secluded
lakes and streams.
Fancy pictures the We'll remembered
haunts among the evergreens whose odors
are waited to me fragrantly, lefreshingly.
The quiet camp by the lake side the peb-
bly, beach, the evening glow reflected by
the shimmering waters; the distant call of
the alert loon, melodious sounds among
these surroundings: the forest behind me
looming tall an& dark in the gathering
gloom. \ light and joyous feeling of in
tense pleasure and exhilaration is felt,
only to be produced by agreeable mem
cries OF wood and stream. From out the
dimness OF the past, and the memory of
general events, come recollectionS of par
tlcular times and places; memories of
friends far away; of bivouacS, the embers
OF whose fires have long since been scat
tered. In fancy l again hear the splash
OF trout or salmon as they throw them
selves in sport into the glittering sunlight.
How my heart has jumped with excite
ment as that eXuberant sound has broken
the stiffness, and my whole person thrilled
with expectation as | saw the fish dart
after my fly, cautiously cast upon the
dark waters These are recollections
" hlch perpetuate youth and happiness.
How well | remember one particular
trip, taken several years ago in company
with a very pleasant companion and
event should have come to me tonight |
cannot say, We had left our home il
Belfast early in May, our destination
Moosehead Lake. For days we had been
waiting patiently for the ice to leave the
lake. AT the first intimation that it was
ont We started away. If one wishes to be
sure OF big catch at Moosehead he
should be there in the early spring, dur
ing the first three weeks after the ice
leaves the lake. During this time the fish
are running close n shore and bite freely.
We had resolved to make this trip a
somewhat different experience from the
usual manner OF going, consequently we
abandoned railroads and steamboats, and
drove overland, stopping wherever night
overlook us, and depending entirely upon
the tarn-houses along the way for our en-
teltainment. Hitching pair of stout
horses to an open wagon, into which we
packed our rods, nets, luggage, ETC., one
pleasant, sunny morning we began our
drive to Greenville, a small village at the
4oot OF the lake. AS the shadows We're
iengthening on the afternoon Of the sec
ond day out We came in sight OF the lake
spread out like mirror before u.s. Our
TWO days drive had been most enjoyable:
Particularly had we enjoyed the last thirty
miles Of the journey, when the scenery
had become most charming and pictur-
esque
That night we spent under the hospit-
able roof OF the Lake House, and on the
following morning proceeded to collect
ouI provisions, secure a boat, and also
decide just where we should 90: every
thing being considered, Spencer bay seem
ed to present the more favorable con-
GIfjn11S and lp9r,pi,u thara
camp to be had at Lucky point we tecid-
ed to locate there. We also decided to 90
into the woods by ourselves, without a
guide, thus being free from the constant
annoyance of having stranger about. In
large parties guides are indispensable, ii
fol no other reason than to do the work:
but III small parties, unless one is very
happy in the selection Ct the man. they
are a constant source of ANNOYANCE and
restraint.
Everything in the way of provisions can
be found in Gleenviile, and it is much
better to get them there. One is thus
saved the trouble and expense OF trans
portatlVn; the grocery stores are well
stocked, and when you come out they
will take back whatever you may have
left; at least, one Of them always did this
tor me, and doubtless the others would
do the same. Reliable men as guides are
always to be had by applying to the va
rious hotels. The lake steamers make
Greenville and the Cove headquarters.
and l have found their captains invari-
ably accommodating. We soon found a
party who We're going up the lake, and
they agreed to run into Spencer bay and
drop us at Lucky point. We also made
arrangements with the kneo steamer TO
pick us up week later on our way out at
the head of Sugar island. We We're very
well satisfied with the accommodations at
Lucky point. The camp was roomy and
comfortable, we had fine weather, and
were very successful in our fishing.
The morning of our departure found us
at daybreak all packed, our belongings
snugly slowed away in the boat, and we
We're spelling each other at the oars as we
rowed down the bay to the head of Sugar
island. We had taken this early start to
avoid the wind which might spring up
later on. A wind is always annoying if
at all heavy, as it quickly kicks up a nasty
chop which is unpleasant and at times
positively dangerous to a small, heavily
laden boat.
oh, the beauty of that morning. Not
breath of air disturbed the polished sur
face of the lake. The broad bay spread
about and away from us in every direc-
ton Far ont to Our riUht a hio side