St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-07-27
IN THE RESERVOIR.

OTk vi tuo up VI tno uietilputlus Iee
ervoir any fine October morning. There
were two or three carriages in waiting,
and half dozen senatorial looking
mothers with young children pacing
the parapet as we ourselves, one day
in the past generation, basked there in
the sunshine-now watching the pick
erel that glided along the lucid edges
of the black pool within, and now look
ing off upon the scene of rich and WON
drous variety that spreads along the two
rivers on each side.
"They may talk of Alpheus and
Arethusa, murmured an idling sopho-
more who had found his way thither
during recitation hours, "but the Gro
ton, in passing over an arm of the sea
at Spuyten Duyvil and bursting to
sight again in this truncated pyramid,
beats it all hollow. BY George, too, the
bay yonder looks as blue as ever the
AEGEAN sea to Byrons eye gazing from
the Acropolis. But the painted foliage
on these crags-the Greeks must have
dreamed of such vegetable phenomenon
in the midst Of their grayish olive
groves or they never would have sup
piled the want of it in their landscape
by embroidering their marble temples
with gay colors. Did You see that pike
break, sir?"
Il did not. !"
"Zoundsl His silver fin flashed upon
the black Acheron like a restless soul
that hoped yet to mount from the pool. :"
1.-THE place seems suggestive of fan
cies to you?" we observed in reply to
the rattlepate.
at is, indeed, for I have done up
good deal of anxious thinking within a
circle of few yards where that fish
broke just now"
"a singular place for meditation
the middle of the reservoir. ="
"You look incredulous, sir, but it
fact A fellow can never tell until he is
tried in what situation his most earnest
meditations may be concentrated | am
boring you though"
Not at all. But you seem so familiar
with the spot that wish you could tell
me why that ladder leading down to the
water is dashed against the stonework
in yonder corner"
"That LADDER" said the young man,
Frightening at the question. "Why, the
position, perhaps the very existence, of
that ladder resulted from my medita-
tions in the reservoir, at which you
smiled just now. Shall tell you all
about them?"
"Pray do"
"Well, you have seen the notice for
bidding any one to fish in the reservoir.
Now, when | read that warning, the
spirit of the thing struck me at once as
inferring nothing more than that one
should not sully the temperance pota-
tions of our citizens by sleeping bait in
it of any kind; but you probably know
the common way Of taking pike with
slip moose of delicate wire. l was de.
termined to have touch at the fellows
with this kind of tackle.
81 chose moonlight night, and an
hour before the edifice was closed to
visitors l secreted myself within the
walls, determined to pass the night on
the top. All went as l could wish it,
The night proved cloudy, but it was
only variable drift of broken clouds
which obscured the moon. l had a
walking cane rod with me, which
would reach to the margin of the water
and several feet beyond if necessary.
TO this was attached the wire about
10 inches i'll length.
Il prowled along the parapet for a
considerable time, but not single fish
could see. The clouds made flicker
ing light and shade that wholly foiled
my steadfast gaze. Twas convinced that
should they come up thicker my whole
nights adventure would BIZ thrown
away. Why shall not descend the
sloping wall and get nearer on level
with the fish, for thus alone can l hope
to see one:' The question had hardly
shaped itself in my mind before l had
one leg over the iron railing.
= IF you look around, you will see
now that there are some half dozen
weeds growing here and there amid the
assures of the solid masonry. In one of
the assures from whence these spring
1 planted a foot and began my descent.
The reservoir was fuller than it is now,
and few strides would have carried
me to the margin of the water. Holding
on to the cleft above, l felt around with
one foot for place to plant it below
me.
"ln that moment the flap of a pound
pike made me look round, and the roots
of the weed upon which l partly de-
pended gave way as l was in the act of
turning. Sir, ones senses are sharpened
in deadly peril. AS l live now dis
tinctly heard the bells Of Trinity Chin
ing midnight as rose to the surface
the next instant, immersed in the stone
caldron, where must swim for my life
heaven only could tell how long.
IL am capital swimmer, and this
naturally gave me degree of self pos
session: Failing as l had, I, of course,
bad pitched ont some distance from the
sloping parapet. A few strokes brought
me to the edge. l really was not yet
certain but that could Chamber up the
face of the wall anywhere. hoped
that / could. felt certain that at least
there was some spot where / might get
hold with my hands, even if I did not
ultimately ascend it.
al tried tho nparact cpot Tho ;noIioo