The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-15


I'VE think about the source!"
900
He was old and weather beaten,
and his clothes Topped loosely about
his shrunken figure as he sat on the
| edge of the wharf yesterday after
noon, with his feet hanging over,
fishing In his mouth was a pipe that
had been clean and sweet somewhere
back in a dim, dim past, and look
OF infinite content had settled on his
simple old face.
Any luck, captain2" | questioned
casually, as l paused to take in the
situation.
Nope, they amt a biting much to-
day"
They don't bite MUCH anyhow,
these days, do they2"
Nope-nOt like I've seen 'em.
UseteT come down to PaIafox or Bay
len street wharf and in an hours
time bring home a string that would
make your mouth water. Can't do it
now-no sir. Too many fishin' in the
bay already" and he shot a volIey of
tobacco juice into the waters beneath.
Suddenly the old man grew excited.
With a warning finger on his lips, to
silence ME into a suitable feeling of
awe over the extreme situation, he
finally gave his line a professional APP
! pearing jerk, and then allowed it to
rest easily and quietly in the water.
! Get something. captain" when the
tension was finally relieved sufficient
| ly to admit of a whispered converse
| ton.
Got anything" he CALCULATED
got anything, eh2 Well, that Just
shows how much you know about
| fishing Now what I've got on the end
of that line is nothing more than a
Whopp1ng big man-eating shark that
has bTung himself in too far towards
shore He's a big fellow-got to pull
him in steady and firm SOS not to
be breaking my line. See?" And he
commenced pulling and Juggling in d
JudIcious manner at the cord in his
hand.
As the landing process progressed,
the old man evidently took one more
look at my utter heIpIessness and ig-
norance in the art of Sir Isaac. for he
resumed the broken thread of his pre-
VloUS conversation in a painstaking
manner which plainly spoke of a duty
he would fain accomplish, come
what might, whether or no.
Now, if you'd a knowed anything
fhout fishing" he continued, you
could a told what he was in a minute
by the way he took hold of that bait.
1t was all over with Mr.. Shark. Now
if he'd been a sheep head. or a sun
fish, or crab, he would a monkeyed
around lot, smelt of the bait. worried
the line, and raised considerable sand
before finally Settin' in for real
decent sort of a gentlemanly bite. Oh,
no, SOnny-yOu can't fool your Uncle
Reuben on the fishin' proposition" he
added, loosely, as he finally prepar-
ed to pull in his game and exhibit the
big catch to his friends on the dock
Slowly he pulled, and with a precis-
ion and care born of long years of eX-
perience and close application. The
line remained tense for a moment
and then with an extra dexterouS
movement on the part of the old
knight of the line, the catch slowly
and labOriOUsly came TO the surface.
1t was an old pair of trousers.
900
The woman with the wispy hair and
faded calico apron had just lodged in
the back way to tell her troubles to
the lady of the house, who, flushed
from the evaporation Of superintend-
ing that mysterious operation known
to housewives as canning" paused
now and then to give at least a polite
semblance of attention to her guest.
The little kitchen steamed and
reeked with the heat of the bubbling
fruit on the little gas stove. A be-
muddled cook dashed here and there
in an evident attempt to be every
where at once, but usually succeed
ed in landing under her mistresses
feet. The lady of the wisps was
speaking.
Il declare, Mrs. Brown" she sniff
fed audibly and the corner of the
faded blue apron went up 10 her eyes.
when l see you here cheerful and
cOntented, with no british man for
a husband, always in the best of spir-
its and your own boss, | must say
envy you"
The subject of her remarks ficked
an overdOne spoonful of peach pre-
serves into a glass that had been
cooled for the operation of trying"
and said nothing. The woman con-
tinued.
You being a widow accounts for
! it all, and | amt the one that don't
know ii, either Now there's nv
husband. He's a man that wants his
! meals straight on the dot. whether
/ I've got to lick in and do it myself
or nOt-like as not I have. too-and
get him out read for going to work
Mebbe il happens I'm at the Married
| Ladies' Semi-MonthIy News-Bulletin. -
Snatchin' what little enjoyment I can
out of this vale OF sSTrOW- six O'Clock
comes Che works nights)- and I've got
/ to be home on the spot seeing to that
mans superior there's a row in
I the house | don't care for rows N.Y.
self, but l think they are bad amuse-
ment TO place before young children.