Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-16
A HUNGRY Skeleton

nghted ms pipe ullcf Ine evening meal
81 reckon III have to give you yarn.
Last year | went down to Martins with
a party that was just going out, and ar
ter they'd paid me off | went in to see il
old Martin bed any business for me. He
was ticklcd to death when he see me.
"'Bil, I've got big job for you
"'What kind OF n jobY
"'Why, to take sick man up the
lakes
81 don't like that kind of a job says
|. Them chaps are mighty contrary,
and, like enough. he'd die up there just
to spite me-
"'You've got to take chances on that,
old chap; and il you take him up there
a month he'll give you $500!
"Whar is heY
Martin took me into a room in the
front of the house. and there sat a man
that looked as much like living skcl-
eton as any | ever see; but when | come
to look at the Teller | see he he'd more
life than n good many who didn't show
so much bone. and that very day | kerr
ricd him down to the boat, laid him on n
bed Of balsam boughs up for'ard, and
away we went.
"IIe kept up won'erful for a sick man.
| don't think ! ever see a man who was
so fur gone that showed so much vitality.
| kept the paddle going pretty brisk UNI
til bout / o'clock, and then ] put into a
point, left him lying on the bank and
built lean for him to sleep under.
AFTER that | caught six or eight good
trout from a spring brook that run into
the lake. built fire. made some coffee
and was going to eat my supper, calki-
lating To give him n leetle suthing when
b., | list In nj trh
in when he called me.
"'Wlliam,' says he.
81 amt none of your Williams. On
adaccr Bill, | am and nothing but it,
every well, Bill. | feel as If | could
eat a lcctlc suthing.
81 asked his pardon, and said | calki-
lated that man rs sick as he was
wouldn't kcer for Cruel
81 don't want much, Bill. A few Of
those trout. Il cup Of coffee and any
| other little trifes you can think Of will
! be good enough for me-
| Il got up to wunst and set to work to
! catch some trout for myself, while | set
the rest before him on strip OF birch
| bark ! caught about rs many trout as
! thought | could get outside OF com
Portable and put 'cm in the pan, watch
ing them and calkilating what a good
time I'd have when that living skeleton
called me ag'in.
Another cup Of coffee Bill. If you
please
IL got up to give him the coffee, and
may | never kill another buck il he
hadn't stripped them eight trout as clean
as n whistle
I'D ike = few more trout he says.
4 amt got much appetite, n poor sick
] 4 civ ~ | :
only healthy
Il went back and cooked some more
trout but before | got 'em ready he was
singing ont for "A few of those nice
trout
Il took him a dozen more.
ado you know, Bill he says, looking
up in my face in his smooth, innocent
way, that it almost gives me an appetite
to eat these troutF
Says |. MIR. Staples, amt yuu afraid
you'll eat too muchT
Eat too much! My friend. have
eaten anything TO speak Off
Eaten anything, Great Caesar, NJ"
Staples, do YOU pretend that you can ca
any more when you are wellP
"'Of course | can he says. just Al
mad as he could be. When | am well,
have just rs good an appetite as an!
one
Then tell you that you've made I
great mistake. Mr.. Staples. It's Gle
plants you want. and you ought TO hay'
gone to Africa. and then. like enough,
could have killed a critter big enough
TO give you n square meal Then
went down to the boat and brought up
piece Of pork that weighed about L
pounds.
hot 70 do nj tina
pork he says.
"'I'm going to cook it for your sup
per. | judge you'll need it,
"'Thank you. Bill. believe | vii
take a piece of that pork, and ca
kinder peck at it while you catch som
more trout
"I'll see you cussed afore I'll cate
another trout. If I've got to tote you II
and down the lake, amt going to kerr
% pounds extra every time you get
meal. And. see here! You can just tax
your money back and find another guide
for cuss my old head if can hunt an
fish for a man that needs regiment O
cooks and an armory of guides to pre-
vide his grub
IL don't think | ever heered n ma
laugh ms he did. and then n change cam
over him. lie got up, gave himself
7 shake. and he was changed man. Iii
hollow cheeks came out. his eyes wer
not sunk so deep and he was rather
good looking man, with n jolly look
his eye Then old Martin came out {
the woods and fell down, holding hi
sides and laughing like he was to bus
l see it was a gag then.
"rhe man was a New York actor, an
it was just a put up job between hi
and Martin. was so mad at first
thought ia quit, but they laughed m
out of it, and | went through the lake
with him. And this | will say: A bette
companion, a surer shot or a lighter han
on a ten ounce rod | don't wish to SCI
I'd just come back with him when yo
: engaged me. and I'm to paddle for hi
every year while we stay above the sol
But ri never forget that time while
live. Blanket time. gentlemen; let's go
; Foost. Exchange.
Surprising.