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Entered according: to Act of Congress, in June, 1867, by J. W. Burke & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia.
Vol. I.
Adapted for Burke’s Weekly.*
A PISHING FROLIC.
F you will turn back to
Ss? No. 34 of the Weekly, you
mam will see something about
an adventure of Mr. Sucl
berry, a London merchant,
who went into the Highlands
LR of Scotland to spend the sum
mer. In that adventure, a
** nanny-goat, a large black cat,
and a bantam rooster and two hens
played a very considerable part.
I am going to tell you now of an
other adventure of Mr. Sudberry. To
stand alone on a lovely summer’s
day, rod in hand, on the banks of a
Highland stream, had been Mr. Sud
berry’s dream from his boyhood, but
fate decreed that he should be a man
of mature age before his dream w T as
to be realized. Behold him now, in
fishing costume, with rod in hand, on
the banks of a rapid rock-bound
stream, prepared to “try his luck.”
After various accidents and indif
ferent success, he at length reached a
portion of the stream where the
waters warbled and curled in little
easy-going rapids, miniature falls, and
deep, inviting-looking pools. He felt
that there must be something there.
A row of natural stepping-stones ran
out towards a splendid pool, in which
he felt sure there must be a large
trout, perhaps something even better.
It is no easy matter, as every one
knows, to step from one stone to another
in a river, especially when the water runs
swift and deep between them. Mr. Sud
berry found it so. In his efforts to reach
the pool in question, which lay under the
opposite banks, he found no little difficul
ty, but succeeded at last.
*From “Freaks on the Fells,’’ by R. M. Ballantyne.
Published by Crosby & Ainsworth, Boston.
MACON, a A., MAY 30, 1868.
Standing on a small stone, carefully
balanced, and with his feet close together,
he threw out his line beautifully. It was
gracefully done, and would have been
quite successful but for the branch of a
tree which overhung the stream. In his
eagerness, Mr. Sudberry did not observe
this branch, and in casting he thrust the
end of his rod violently into it. The line
curled in due confusion round the leaves
and small boughs, and the hook, as if to
tantalize him, hung down within a foot
of his nose.
Mr. Sudberry made a desperate grasp
at the hook, and caught it. More than
t p a t__it caught him, and sunk deep into
his finger, so that he could not get it out.
There he stood, the very personification
of despair, revolving in his mind the best
way to release his finger without break
ing the line or damaging his rod. But,
alas! while he was looking up in rueful
contemplation of the havoc above, and
then down at his pierced and captured
finger, his foot slipped, and he fell
with a heavy plunge into deep water.
That settled the question. The
whole of his tackle remained at
tached to the overhanging bough,
except the hook in his finger, with
which, and the remains of his fishing
rod, he scrambled to the shore.
Mr. Sudberry’s first act on reaching
the land was to look for his basket.
His next was to fish out his hat,
which was sailing down the stream.
He then squeezed the water from his
clothes, took up his rod with a heavy
sigh, and turned his steps home
ward, just as the sun began to sink
behind the peaks of the distant hills.
Punctuality.
It is said of Melanctlion, that when
he made an appointment, he expected
not only the hour but the minute to
be fixed, that no time might be
wasted in the idleness of suspense ;
and of Washington, that when his
secretary, being repeatedly late in
his attendance, laid the blame on
his watch, lie said, “ You must either
get another watch, or I another sec
, retary.”
He who sins against men may fear dis
covery. but he who sins against God is
sure 0 f it. Bear this fact in mind, little
reader.
•»<►♦
Ho but the half of what you can, and
you will be surprised at the result of your
diligence.
No. 4:8