The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-16

siderable distance he wandered about homeless
with the barbed minnow still fast to his jaw and
the line trailing after For many days that min
tortured him. At every sharpedged rock he
rubbed and rubbed to get free from the obnoxious
hook which at last came off along with piece OF
bone and flesh. After many days he returned to
his lair again to meet the angler. his rod, and his
lures.
The fifth age finds justice domiciled In q
very different situation than he occupied as the
soldier, in keeping with his rounded form
and jovia disposition. His previous characteristic.
impetuousity is replaced by a sedate though woo-
bly, dart in taking his food at night He has chosen
a lair far down the river, where the water is WIDE
slow-moving and very Deep midst great boulders
and rocks.
Numerous and varied are the neighbors round
about him-arge and small club, many bass swim
leisurely by to now and then poach his favorite
feeding place. steal his dace and sinners. Great
suckers are everywhere licking the rocks or lying
fiat on the pebbly bed. Grown extremely wise and
solemn the justice never moves while the sun is
up: after SHUTDOWN when night-moths flicker on
the surface. you can perhaps see or hear periodic
splashes, proof that he now dimes. 1t is not
hurried function, but continues throughout the
night.
All the other denizens of his lair familiar
with his habits and have profound respect for
him His size commands it. The curved hook on
his lower jaw has sinister appearance and the
weghty look of his broad shoulders and ponderous
belly does not encourage or permit any inter
ference with his actions feeding, from setting
SIN till dewy morn No angler seduce
tempt him from his abode whatever skill or lures
they employ by day at that time.
THE sixth age ushers in the weakening grandeur
of advancing age, whereby gross indulgence pays
The penaty. For some cause or other the appe-
rite wanes Hungry desire longer tempts him
10 move from the dark. deep hole he has chosen
living still the vast bulk begins to dwindle away.
the sides shrink shabbness and parasites attach
themselves to the skim once so sleek and
shiny.
Last scene of all finds the pantaloon at the foot
of . great falls where angler would imagine a
trout would choose to haunt. Under shelving |
rocks far beneath the boiling water there he lies,
solitary and still-day after day, week after week.
without friends without food. self-lmposed pris-
oner in senidarlneSs and gloom.
1t is lovely springtme, the river is teemng with
life and movement. the air is filed with insects
sailing up and down. dropping their eggs the
rippling surface of the water. He sees knows
none of this fins and tail still and like a
foating log he lies void of life, except that his
great hooked lower jaw moves up and down wee
BIT taking in a pitifu remnant of the breath of
life His eyes Justices and dim. and the color
ess !eathery skin has patches of painful sores
made by the parasites that attack inactive
bodies
Heavy rains now flood the river-helpless and
weak his tail and fins have no power to battle
against the strong undertow and he Is swept along
IN his side again into rapid water from his
elf-cfosen watery tomb. Away far down the river
little boy, holding willow wand attached to
is line and hook bated with a small wriggling
FORM. fishing without any success for baby trout
he sharpe boy perceives strange floating
biect coming downstream moment later. the
reat monster trout with white belly skyward Is
asst ashore right at his very feet