The Washington herald., 1909-08-08

Lackawaxen. IA, Aug. 7.-"Having
always had my head close to natures
heart with an ear alert TO It's every tarob
and an eye ever open to observe particu-
larly ways of nature that the casual per-
son never would detect" said Warren n
Ridgway, formerly sheriff. treasurer.
register, recorder, and clerk OF Pike
County. Il became intensely interested In
what Jefferson ShellenbanlSer told me one
time. and was disappointed beyond words
when he got that letter from home.
If you want to make a study Of cat
FISH that are the real thing. he had said
10 me, you should come with me over TO
my native valley Of the SCrubgrass and
look che MoiefetcheT pair over
Jefferson Shellenbanker was working
for me at the time, and the way he came
10 refer me 70 his native balliwick as the
proper place for studying the perfect cat
fish was that 1 had mentioned casually
one day a touching little incident that had
come within my observation at Promised
Land pond. In time of high water Prom
ised Land pond In those days rose and
covered the old stumps along its shores.
when the water began 10 recede II re-
coded quickly. Most Of the stumps were
big and some OF them were hollow.
When the water was falling after one
Of these floods was a good time to net
bait fish along the shores. 1 was netting
some one day when I saw a movement
at the top Of a big hollow stump that
had been covered by the high water but
which was now about half way un-
covered. The stump was twenty-five feet
from shore. Looking closer I saw that
the movement was made by a catfish
which had its head and half OF it's body
above the hollow in the stump. As II
turned its gaze toward me where / stood
netting out bait fish IL gave a flop that
landed II IN the water below.
Left by Receding Water.
1T vas plain to me that the catfish had
settled itself in the hollow Of that stump
as a pretty comfortable nook 20 be in
while the food water was carrying IL.
and that It hadn't noticed the receding
OF the pond The discovery OF its pre-
dicament Of course. had given the cat
fish a great scare but now that il had
jumped back into the pond I naturally
supposed that would end its trouble
Il went on with my bait fish netting.
when pretty soon I saw the catfish pop
its head out Of the water a yard or so
from where I stood with my bait net
and gazed at me with a queer look IN its
eyes. When 1t caught my eye the catfish
turned and swan back toward the hol-
low stump. keeping its head out OF
water, and turned so it could look at
me.
I stood stiu wondering what the big
mouthed fish was acting in that way for.
After swimming a little way toward the
stump the catty turned and came back
again until It was close 10 me. and with
that queer look still in its eyes
The catfish kept this up SO long. COM
ing close tc me, and then swimming back
toward the stump. sometimes going all
the way 70 g. and trying 20 spring up
into the hollow. that I made UP my mind
something out Of the ordinary was excit-
ing that fish.
It's coaxinE me TO 20 to that stump
for some reason or other" seid T.
80 I waded over TO the stump. and
as I approached it the catfish spattered
and splashed around in the water. rs
II dancing for JOY. I looked down into
the hollow Of the stump. and then all
was clear TO me Darting franticany
about IN the water in the hollow were
q myriad OF young catfish. The big fish
on the outside was their mother.
well, what had 70 do with her pre-
dicament? Nothing. except when she dis
covered It and saw me with net lifting
minnows out Of the water along shore
she got an idea. and that idea was to
coax me 10 come with my net over to
that stump and lift her kittens out Of it
and restore them TO her.
The person who hadn't his head ever
close to natures heart and his eyes con-
stantly open TO the strange ways OF na-
ture and her creatures might not have
fallen to this idea. I did. and as I netted
the little catties out Of the hollow stump
and turned them over 10 their mother.
and I declare II almost brought tears TO
my eyes 10 see the Joy Of that happy
reunion.
Il happened to refer casually to this
incident one day In the presence Of Jcr-
fcrson Shellenbanker He listened 10 II
with rapt attention, and il pleased him.
bringing up 10 him, as Il did. recollections
OF his old home.
There may be more picturesque and
healthful valleys than my own native
Scrubgrass, said he but there Is not a
creek nor a river nor n pond on the face
Of the earth that breeds, rears. and fos-
strength tenacity. mildness Of temper.
tractability. docillty, and willingness with
the catfish the historic Scrubgrass yields
to her expert and patient anglers.
- 7 wish my friend IZakeT Molefetcher
were known 20 you He is not a large
man. but he IS big enough 10 be one OF
the best fisherman that ever kept YOU
wondering while he told you all about It.
a year ago this spring Izaker stretched
a set line in the creek, after the sure but
unexclting Scrubgrass style OF angling
II doesn't matter what else ne caught. but
among his catch were two representative
Scrubgrass catfish.
When my friend Molefetcher. with
the aid Of his hired man. hauled them
into his boat they were still as full OF
life and vigor as they were before they
had succumbed 70 temptation and swal-
lowed the bait with which the Mole
fotcher's hooks had been disguised. They
were well matched, sound. kind as kit
tens. and weighed thirteen pounds each.
Eat Ont OF HIS Hand.
Ny friend Molefetcher has Il small
pond on his premises. and having for
some reason taken high regard for the
pair Of catfish he loaded them on his
wagon and transferred them from their
native scruograss waters 10 the waters
OF the pond. The catfish proved truly
grateful for this mark OF consideration.
and showed their appreciation Of It by
taking their meals out Of the hand Of any
member Of the Molefetcher family who
went 70 the pond to feed them. and they
would come on call at any time to let
the children play with them.
Ny friend Molefetcher has a severn
year-old boy named Erastus. They call