Year: 1870

/
Through the farms, where tht
trout had been preserved, than il


the open lots where all could fish


1t was early in the morning


We had risen at three, ridden ter
miles and struck the creek as the
trout were ready for breakfast
Looking carefully for sheltered
lplace to hitch our horses, we sly
ly crept on behind fences, etc., till
we had reached the part of the
stream not generally fished. A
farm house stood not quarter of
a mile away. We saw the morn.
ing smoke curling lightly from 6
stove pipe; saw a man and two
boys come out to DO chores; saw q
woman busy about the door, and
a ferocious bulldog wandering a.
bout the yard. ,
IF ever we fshed close il was
then. Not a whisper to disturb
the birds or the owners of the
land. We crawled through the
grass and lodged behind clumps
of elders, lifting large speckled
beauties out of the water until our
baskets were full.


This was the time to have gone;
but the trout were so large and
bit SO readily that we decided to
string and hide what we had and
take another basketful. So at it
we went. No sooner would the
hook touch the water than it had
a trout. We forgot the house, the
man, the boys, and the dog. Sud-
denly there was a rushing through
an oat field as if a mad bull was
coming. We looked toward the
house, and saw the farmer and his
two boys on a fence, the woman
in the door, and the dog bounding
toward us. We saw it alive
had been discovered The well
trained dog had teen sent to hunt
us out, and, as the matter ap-
peared, it was safe to bet that be
was doing that thing right lively.


To outrun the dog was not to
be thought of. There was no
time to lose. He cleared a fence
and came for us, just as we reach
ed a tree, and by great activity
took a front seat on a limb above
his reach. Here was a precious
gol A vicious bulldog under the
tree, and the farmer and two boys
ready to move down upon our
works. 1t was fight, foot race, or
fangs.


The farmer yelled to bis dog,
"Watch him, Tigel''


Tige proposed 10 do that little
thing, and keeping his eyes on us,
seated himself under the tree.


Then spoke this ugly farmer
man: "Just hold on thar, stran-
ger, till we get breakfast; then we
will come and see you'll If you
are in hurry, however, you can
go now! Watch him, T1ge y


We surmised trouble; quite too
much, for thrice had that bold
man of bulldogs and agriculture
elegantly walloped innocent tour
lists for being seen on his subur-
ban premises. His reputation as
a peace man was not good, and
there arose a large heart toward
our throat.


Time is the essence Of contracts
and the saving ordinance of those
in trouble. We had a stout line
in our pocket, and a large Look
intended for rock bass, if we failed
to take trout. And as good luck
would have it we had got nice
sandwich and a piece of boiled
corn beet in our other pocket.


We called the dog pet names
but it was no go! Then we tried
to move down, when he moved up!
At last we trebled our bass line,
and fastened the limeric to it,
baited it with corn beef, tied the
end of the line TO a limb, and an
gled for dog.


Tige was in appetite. He swal-
lowed it, and sat with his eyes on
US for more; but with no friendly
look heaming fiom his eounte-
nance. Not anyl


Then we pulled gently on the
line-it was fast ! Tige yanked
and pulled, but twas of no use


We quickly slid down the tree
blistering our back do
ing it-seized our pole, and
went thence some
what lively.


We found the string of fish,
and reached the buggy and COM
manding spot in the road in time
to see the sturdy yeoman move
forth. ..


We saw him and his cohorts,
male and female, move slowly, as