The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-23
.ColNs Err -fIsHlN'
Al You and Billy used to Do It In
the Days When You
Were Boys. &

were ooyA
.Have you ever been sr-ashin''' queried
tho man who had been reared among the
New England hills, as the waiter placed
before him some Long Island trout II
you have not you have missed ono OF the
good things In life -.
Eyes, replied his friend and host. sWhen-
ever there's chance I take five ounce
rod and some flies and cot out. In fact'
these particular fish We are eating are my
reward for neglecting work for forty-eisht
hours
THAT amt hshin',' said tho country
bred man. "That's anglin'.' -.
well, what's the dinersnce?'
Its plainly evident that you mover have
been er-fishin'. or you wouldn't AJAX such
question. Listen to mo and III toll you
how to 60 er-fshin'.' b..
Il suppose III have to- replied his friend
resignedly. IF these old homestead at
tacks are as hard on you a. they are on
your friends, it would be nothing less than
crime not to let you get one out OF your
system
.To enjoy to the limit goin' er-Ashin'
one must be boy. So we'll just jump
In ma q comfortable old farmhouse In the New
England hills. It's Friday night, late
in NAV. supper Is over, and while mother
is clearing the table father reads aloud
from the County Bulletin, and Billy Taylor
comes in. ,
I'm going to let you be Billy and I'm
giving You a great social boost, for BDly's
father owns the store and Is a deacon.
Mother makes exhaustive inquiry con-
oerning the health Of all your relatives,
and you humble 'Yes'm' to each query.
| tphk
r'Jer ask him?' you whisper.
'Hain't yet whisper In return.
1'When yer goin' terri
Pretty quick
~: H. him lin ! n 81. can't y'r'
Am waitin', amt ~
And YOU do wait, until finally father
lays the paper in his lap and, glancing
our way, seems for the first time to be-
come sTare s 9i y9anT yens father he
l'Yes'm. I--I-mean yessir,' you an
swer But father don't seem to notice
your break, and once more takes up tRe
p'ouiek <, Ask him now you say giving
.Thus admonished, make the plunge.
''Say, pa! Billy wants me ter go or
fishin' with him ter-morrer.'
why I should think that he would let
me 60 any quicker because, you or any
day tell, but l am unable to recall ever
asking for this privilege without ringing
in at least one outsider.
Father lays the paper In his lap again.
and there is breathless silence while he
medtates.
THE corn in the south lot needs holm
bad, John he says, finally.
sThat's heart breaker-and a back
breaker. The south lot stands for not
less than eight hours Of work. But when
all seems lost who should come TO the
rescue but mother.
Now father says this blessed advo-
cate, do let the boy go; seems like you've
forgot what boy you was fer fshin'.
And father gives in and seems sort OF
glad Of it. i reckon what mother said
thinking
with whoop we rush out Of the house
and around to the woodshed, where We
secure q spade and tin can and go pros
pecting for worms. IT'S quite light enough
for that even at O'Clock, and to-morrow's
hours are too precious to be >wasted in dig
ging bait. Then you tell me OF q rotten
stump In Deacon Bassett's orchard that's
chock full er gr,lbs-sockin' big fellers,
and we get lantern from the barn-it's
quite dark now,and 60 cross lots to the
-We're tired enough when we get home
you're going to sleep with me-apd we
go to bed early and to sleep quickly, for We
must be up long before the sun. 1t seems
as if we had only got to sleep when there
calling:
Come boys. It's most s o'clock
"We Jump out Of bed and into our clothes,
but we don't wash up much, for what's the
tptoe downstairs father ain's up yet
to find that mother is ahead OF us,
ham and eggs sufficient for four, which we
somehow condense and pack into two
while we are performing this appar-
emily impossible gastronomic feat, mother
puts us up a bountiful noontime snack
and we find ourselves on our way. When
we reach Myrick's pasture we separate,
you going to Joness woods, while go to
the woods beyond Browns Holler,' you
having elected to fish one branch and l the
other OF Silver Brook. The first at the
junction waits for the other fellow and when
we get together we1l eat our lunch.
soon l am in action. You and having
reached the age OF IA, we no longer reckon
horned poat and perch or even pickerel
$50, regardless Of the fact that I shall
undoubtedly be wet to the waist In fifteen
minutes, l carefully roll up my trousers;
cut and trim a forked switch on which
to string my fish and am ready for business.
You always insisted 1t was bad luck to cut
|
/ never would allow that 1t made any dif-
ference.
Il guess I'll try grub first OF. They're
80 white that even the most sleepy eyed
trout must see them. So the grub Is artis-
tically draped upon the hook and l stop
cautiously into the Icy water which sets
my blood a-tingling, select promising
rifle and drop the cleaning bait. Away
IL goes, and finally, as intended 1t should
disappears around big boulder, plunginG
into the pool beyond. For a moment
leave it there and then, as nothing happens
l sweep it to one side and quietly draw II
back. Again drop it, guiding 1t this time
30 that it disappears around the other end
Of the boulder.
AS It disappears there comes the cleo.
trio thrill. With a quick movement I SET
the hook and feeling him still there soch
1t to him. In other words, carefully avoid.
ing the switching Of overhanging foliage
aud without disturbing single pebble
under my feet there may be other trout
in that hole), land him high and dry or
the bank-a beauty Weighing almost
pound.
ST had eighteen and you had twenty
speckled beauties. vowed THAT three Of
yours were under size and We quarreled
all through lunch.
Later we fshed down the brook side by