The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-15

All of which hereby indorse. didn't
want to take him with me. l had been
so rushed with work all season that I
hadn't been able to go up against the
bass at ALL and the Fourth came this
year on Saturday. Which gave me a,
chance to slip. out to Louie Orges place
Friday night, have morning, evening and
morning again to fish in and get back
Sunday night, thus escaping the patriot
ism racket and doing my duty by the
bigmouths at the same time --:.
/ hBut he was stranded in town, and tho
he 3hadn't3so much d s. a hook with him.
heahad not forgotten his nerve. That was
right along and perfect working order.
And when Louie came for me after supper
on the third he was ready, and between
us we fixed him with tackle. had been
collecting frogs all week and had about
five dozen, all green ba cked, white bellied
bass-deluders, and congratulated myself
that there would be no time wasted in
hunting bait after we reached the lake.
But I reckoned without my companion.
Louie had half of an old pork barrel
standing in his door yard, and I filled it
half full Of water and ennptied the froggies
into it that they might enjoy at least one
more cold bath before being thrown to the
Moloch Of the lake. Now among her other
poultry, Louie's wife had brood of little
ducklings which had been Matched out by
an old hen and the sight of the n1otherly
fowl covering the little punches of fluff
with her wings, brought an idea into the
head OF my nervy friend, which he pro-
ceeded to put into execution.
OF course every body has seen a hen
with a brood of ducklings get them within
sight of water and laughed at the doing
that followed, which was the very sight
he wished to see and his idea was to
| bring it about. So at much pains to
himself he moved the old tub around close
| to the box in which reposed the hen and
brood, placed a piece of board up which
the duclklings could waddle and left the
whole arrangement to do it's perfect work
Which it did, and to a pitch of perfec-
ton it's inventor hardly calculated on
Before daylight had fairly arrived the
agonized clamor of the old hen brought
out most Of the folk of the house who
were not dead, and of course we found
the ducklings having the swim of their
| going out Of one At into another up and
down the board, and shrieking bloody muir
der at every jump.
When my friend had caught the '.piece
| Of her mind" which to my secret joy
was handed him by the owner of hen and
ducks, and the little spoonbills had been
|
| from the tub, we all adjourned to get
ready for breakfast, and a start, but in
the excitement everybody forgot to re-
move the board that had served as stair
way for the little ducks.
Now there were also about twenty adult
ducks o nthe premises, and they, being
wise birds, investigated the tub on their
own account, as soon as the coast was
clear. And when went after the lovely
bait had collected with such pains, there
was nothing left but lot Of very corpul-
ent, and happy-looking ducks. I am a pa
tient man. but under the circumstan noes
just had to speak some certain truths
of my friend, that caused straining of re-
lations for pretty much the whole day.
But he didn't get mad and quit, as had
hoped. and off we marched in dignified
silence, headed for Anon Lake, and trust
| ing to luck for a chance to pick up frogs
enough to give us halfway show for our
white ally anyhow.