Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-07

what good does it do to spit on
| your hook?'
I've forgot the science of it, Gus
ter" admitted his father, after mo-
ment's thought. But I've always
heard old fishermen say you couldn't
catch nothing unless you did.
Did you everdry to-
Il can't say as I ever did. What
would be the use when you know bet
teri" said Mr.. Shrimplin, who was
strictly orthodox. His cork went nn-
der and he landed Topping sinner
on the bank; this he took from his
hook and tossed back into the water.
Its funny thing about shiners, he
said.
What is?" inquired Custer.
"Why. YOU always catch EN- when
you amt fishing for EN-. You hsh
for catfish or sun-dabs, or bass even,
if you're using worms, and you catch
shiners mainly, | suppose, because
they are no manner of use TO you.
reckon if you fished for sinners you
wouldn't catch anything-you eouldn
because there is no more worthless
fish that swims That's why fishing
is like life; in fact, you can't do noth-
ing that amt like life; but | don't
know but what catching sinners ain
just a little bit more like life than
anything else! You think you're going
to make a lot of money out Of some
Job you've got but it shaVes itself
down to half by the time 1t reaches
you; or you've got to cough up double
what you counted on when it's the
other way about; so it works out the
same always; you get soaked whether
you buy or sell, from the cradle to
the grave you're always catching
! shiners!' While Mr.. Shrimplin was
still philosophizing big drops Of warm
spring rain began to sSlash and pat
ter on the long reach of still water
before them. He scrambled to his
feet. I'VE are going to have some
weather, CUSTER he said, and they
had scarcely time in which To drive
Bill under the shelter of a disused
hay barracks in an adjacent field
when the storm broke with all It's
fury. Here they spent the better part
of an hour, and when at last the rain
ceased they climbed into the cart and
turned ,Bills head in the direction
of home.
II hope, Custer, that your ma won't
| be scared; it's getting mighty late
said the senior Shrimplin. and he
| shook his head as il in pity of a
| human weakness which his mind
| grasped. though he could not share
| in it. Seems to be, that people give
way more and more to their fear than
| they used to: or maybe it is that Il
ask too much, being naturally nervy
myself and not having no nerves, as
I may say
Half an hour later, off in the dis
tance, the lights of Mt. Hope became
visible to Custer and his father
I'D give a good deal for a glass
| of suds and a cracker right now!"
said Mr. Shr;mplin. speaking after a
long silence He tilted his head and
took a comprehensive survey of the
heavens. Wei, we're going to nave
a fine day for the hanging" he OBJ
served with the manner of con-
noisseur.
"Why won't they let no one see it?'
demanded Custer.
Its to be strictly private. l don't
know but what that's best; it's some
different though, from the hangings
| I'm used to-" And Mr.. Shrimplin
shook his head obviously as if he
wished Custer to understand that
after all perhaps he was not SO sure
it was for the best.
How were they Different in
quired Custer, sensible that his parent
was falling into a reminiscent mood.
well. they We're more gay for one
thing; folks drove in from miles
about and brought their lunches and
ct fried chicken. Sometimes there
was boss racing in the morning, and
maybe a shooting scrape or two; fact
is we usually knowed who was to be
the next to stretch hemp before the
day was over-it gave you something
TO look forward to, But pshawl
What can you expect here? Mount
Hope amt educated up to the sort Of
thing I'm used to! A Teller gets his;
face punched down at Mike Loni-
CAMS or out at the Dutchman's by the
tracks. and the whole town talks of
II. but no one ever draws a gun; the
Teller that gets his face punched