Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-22

uoWn when the squire got another slammin' good bite. He yanked and socked the hook way into the bitter. "tAny inconsider't' chub that fools with my hook twice., says he, is jest as good as sizzlin' in my fryin' pant says he.
 And then he yanked the fish out O the water.
 "'He yanksd it out, Danl,' says Ellis Sam, tellin' me about it, and he seen to wllnst that it want the chub. The squire had ketched two- pound eel
 "Then, 'cordin' to Ellis Sam, the squire sot his heart ag'in chubs, and he says:
 "That's the way to fish!' he says. sYou don't ketch me- he says, 'foolin' my time away on no 1eather-snooted chubs when I kin set and haul out ee1sl' he says.
 '"Then the squire pulled in the wrigglin' and squirmin' eel, and lift in it out O the water, made grab fer it's neck. He ketched it jest be- hind the ears, but before he could sxac'ly fgger out how it was done. the eel had clum up his arm and made a twist or two around his neck, and then went slidin' down his leg, 'round and round it.
 ''It only stopped long enough to sock a couple O teeth into the squire's thumb as he made another grab fer it, and then wiggled back into the river, talxin' half O the squire's line along with him, the half that had the hook onto it.
 "The squire sot and pondered a spell, and wrapped his han'kercher round his thumb, which was hurtin' like Sam Hill. He was het up consid- er'ble, and after ponderin' awhile he got up and started home, dead sot on openin' court and comin' to iedg- ment on himself and establishin' precedent that'd be a precedent and no mistake, when what should he see but big, long-legged crane standin' in the water on one leg. watchin' fer fish to come along and be took. crane spell, and then he says to himself:
 That crane is a-fishin', and fish, in is a delusion and q snare he says. That crane is bound to suffer weary in disapp' 'intment if it has sot out to fish, he says, and guess I'll go and git gun and come back and put the crane out O. the way O the mis- cry that's sure to be layin' in wait for him if he's dependin' on fish.
 "T'd ought to gone a-huntin', any way he says, 'stid O goin' a-ishin'. There ain't no danger in bein' bit by eels when you go a-huntin',' he says. 'Les,' he says. T guess I'll go git gun and go a-huntin', and come and save this crane from the wearyin' disapp'intments O fishin', he says, by sockin' him full O shot,
 'FThen the squire hurried home to git gun.
 Prudence says he. 'fishin' don't seem to be jest what it's cracked up to be. Fels interferes with it and makes it wearin' on the nerves, So I'm goin' a-huntin',' says he.
 "'Be you, sqnire?' says Prudence. sAnd what shall I fix the oven up fer to cook?' says she.
 "'Is roast crane anyways good?' says the squire.
 Tive heerd so,' says Prudence.
 Then git your oven ready to roast a crane,' says the squire, and he went a-huntin'.
 When he got back to the river, where he seen the crane. there it was yet, standin' on one leg, waitirl' fer fish to come along and be took.
 Its goin' to be onfortunit for you that you didn't go a-huntin' in- stid O goin' a-fishin',' says the squire, lookin' at the crane, but I'll rid you of your disappointment says he, and for doin' it I'll take my thanks out in roastin' you says he.
 s'The squire sneaked mp behind the bushes till he was pretty close to the crane, and he blazed away. The crane turned round and looked to'rd the bushes where the squire was scoorchin'. It seemed to be surprised little, and it rig up and sailed away down the creek, slow and easy.
 To make this huntin' life what it ought to be- says the squire, gag i'm after the crane and grittin' his teeth, I s'pose I ought to take up the trail o' that crane and run down and plug him, but I ain't a-goin' to. I'm goih' home he says, sand I'm go- in to fine myself three dollars for contempt O court. and stand com mitted till it's paid!' he says.
 And the squire shouldered his gun and started home. Before he got there he met Sile. Sile was on his way to put out set line in the river.1
 "I've an idee,' says Sile to the squire, that kin git mebbe couple or three snappin' tortles on it tonight says he. and there ain't nothin' that grows that's better than snappin' tortle stew says he.
 "'So I've heerd,' says the squire, and he went home ponderin', and concluded to suspend sentence on himself for awhile.
 Prudence says he, the sign +a l. s-