The Negro world., 1900-05-12
Mr.. JObSOn Goes Fishing :
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mus: JoBsoN," said Mr.. Jobson,
IVL after he had finished reading
the paper on Saturday evening, what
would you rather do or 60 a-fishin'?'
Mrs. Jobson wasn't fa...iliar with
the phrase. and she had to pass.
"Yes, am sane" went on Mr.. job
son. observing Mrs. Jobson's puzzled
look. You are liable to railroad me
across the eastern branch to the big
government institution sooner or
later. Mrs. Jobson, but I'm sane, all
right. Here's what 1 mean: This is
the beauteous spring season. There
fore it is the foolish season for fish.
Fish bite in spring in the upper Po-
tomac. Likewise, nature is now as
Stunning her loyeliest robes. / propose
that we get a skiff tomorrow morn
ing, row ten or is miles up the upper
Potomac. drink in the beauty of the
unfolding LEAKAGE, and catch barrel
Of fish. I'll do the rowing"
Mrs. Jobson kept at her honiton lace
work very industriously.
"Aren't you afraid there might be
some danger in rowing now that you
have grown so stout, and" she be-
gan after pause.
"Oh. that's it," interrupted Mr.. job
son. You are of the opinion that il
IS my purpose TO get you in a boat.
pull her out to the middle of the river
and scuttle her; or else you think that
don't know any more about rowing
than i do of the Higher and Nobler-
one or the other. Mrs. Jobson, never
won any diamond SOULS for rowing.
and l don't pretend that l can beat
Norfolk boat down to Old Point in
an outrigger; but / can row. Mrs.
Jobson-you don't want to LET that
fact get away from you; / can row.
all right. And / can fish, too. And
when you're throwing out jibes about
people getting stout and puffy and
things like that. permit me to remind
you that the passing of the years is not
leaving you exactly so sylph-like as
you were when / came along and res
ened you from single blessedness.
may not be quite so Slim Jimmy and
quick on my pins as | was a couple
81 years ago. but IL l can't pull the
both of us up to where the falls be
gin on the upper Potomac. without
taking a long breath, and then turn
against the tide. you can present ~
name for membership in the Fat
Mems club. that's ALL
Thus it came about that shortly
after nine o'clock on Sunday morn
Ing Mr.. and Mrs. Jobson, with a
plethoric basket of lunch. appeared at
fhe foot of one of the Georgetown
Directs. where Mr.. Jobson rented lines
and sinkers and bought enough bait
10 fit out a GloucPsfer fishing smack
Tor the Great Banks. and negotiated
Tor a boat.
81 don't want any of your tubs. /"
aid Mr.. Jobson TO the boatman.
fGimme a shipshape looking craft.
hat got some style about it-none of
hese here clumsy outfits that look
De Dutch frigates in a gale o wind :"
Well. I've some nice outriggers. :"
lid the boatman. looking Mr.. job
son over out of the tail of his eye
out they're bit hard TO manage. If
xpn amt used 10 EN-. and
Are. hey?- said Mr.. Jobson. well
Il there's any one thing that l can
% besides smoking and not playing
n the eornef. it's just toying with an
entrigger. That's what I had IN
mind-an outrigger. Gimme the long
est and lowest and rakishest one
s0n've got In the barn. and you'll see
Mhpfhgr 4 eau MANAGE IL Or MT -
But interpoxcd Mrs. Jobxon.
affer she had made some furtive ges-
tnres 70 the boatman. haven't ron
sften read OF accidents with chat
hind Of boat. and aren't they"
do we do business. and do I get
that outrigger9r said lIr Jobson. se-
Fereiy. 20 the boatman. who had no
altzrEasisf nat 20 produce the atyle