Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-06-20
well-tried and true.

So familiar is Uncle Jeffy with those
fishing holes" that he has given to
each one name. There is the
"minner-hole" and the "cat-hole" and
the ''brier-hole" The "minner-hole"
lies just below the bridge. One is
able to smoke in comfort there. and
may hold converse with the passers-
by as he waits for tb% fish to bite;
while the "cat-hole'' affords great
sport whenever the stream is up"
But notwithstanding the fact that the
day was fine, the sun lying warm on
the long brown burrows of the hill
side fields, the south wind just stir
ring in the leave, and the water
laughing unsteady as it. slid round
the grassy bends, none of these places
just now attracted Uncle Jeffy-not
even the water-hole," where a viii
low offers it's shade, and where the
rush and hurry of a foaming little
fall strikes pleasantly on the ear. A
half mile further down, however, and
just at the spot where the "horse
branch" pays its toll to the creek,
there is a broad, still pool, which is
deep at its upper end, but which
shelves rapidly until it featheredges
in a shOal against a white sand-bar
below. Above this spot are cotton
wood trees, and at their roots a fallen
log offers one pleasant resting
place; moreover, there is brushwood
close by, where a dog may amuse
himself, and if he is diligent he may
perhaps find a gray rabbit there. In
view Of these advantages the place
attracted Uncle Jeffy, and it was here
that he halted.
After the bait had been adjusted
and the old man had seated himself
and Rowdy had gone away to nose
through the bushes, the silence grew
soft and somnolent. Away off down
the creek a bull-frog was croaking
hoarsely; back in the long stretch of
the road an empty wagon came rat
Ting down the hill, and up among
the leaves Of the cottonwoods the
heavy-winged bees were circling
drowsily.
"H-r-r-ump! h-r-r-ump! h-r-r-umph!"
chanted the frog, and it's tones re-
minded Uncle Jeffy of the preaching
of Brother Tom Larkin Of Lower
Betharbry'' church. Presently he
closed his eyes in order to heighten
the effect.
"H-r-r-umph! h-r-r-umph!" The line
paid slowly out from the rod, the cork
bobbed inshore, and the hook, 1oated
upward by the light cotton which tho
bait contained, drifted downstream
into the shallow.
"H-r-r-umph!" The preacher by
this time was we'll launched into his
discourse, and Uncle Jeffy snored
gently as his head dropped and
rested lovingly against the trunk of
the tree.
The afternoon wore along. The
slanting sunlight crept under the
leaves and rested on the old mans
forehead, the wind caressed his gray
locks, and the curving branches
seemed to stoop toward his weather
beaten face, but all unheeding, he
dreamed on and on and on. In his
slumbers he had grown young again,
and the preacher was rebul1ing his
sins. His pole lay lax in his fingers,
and the hook and the bait rested
lightly against bank of sand.
In the meantime Rowdy had grown
tired. The one rabbit which he had
started had behaved reprehensibly,
and had led him long chase around
the brow Of quilted hill, then it had
eluded him altogether. Ready to
stomach refreshment let it's kind be
what it might, the dog came painting
to the waters edge, Tapped hastily,
shifted the inviting bait and then
Gee whiz! Hits a gollywhopper!"
Startled almost into alright at the
magnitude of his "bite," the old man
struck" and sprung, wide awake, to
his feet.
Rowdy lunged. Cyl! kiyi! ky-i-i!"
he yelped in the greatness of his
panied surprise.
For a moment Uncle Jeffy stood
speeches., then, as the dog plunged
again, the situation dawned upon the
old man and his face flushed.
Come yere, Rowdy!" he yelled.
Come yere, yer blamed ole fool, an
femme onloosen dat hook!"
But Rowdy, hurt now and voicing
his wrongs until the red hills rang,
ran backwards and sideways, struggl-
inc and leaning.
'Rowdy! Rowdy!" Mastering his
wrath Uncle Jeffy tried persuasion,
then rushed forward suddenly.
RoWdy crOuched and tugged once
more at the line, then in a last wild
effort he shot forward as if from a
catapult, struck Uncle Jeffy and
tripped him, and both went down, yell
ling and yelping, into the deep, chill
water of the creek.
When at last the hook had been ex-
tracted and the two had crept out up