FISHING THROUGH THE ICE. 195 

crust, and such e/eganvt snow-shoeing that we began thinking, 
for all this, with the mild weather, was very suggestive. 
Soon we espy Joe coming on his snow-shoes, when we imme- 
diately mistrust that he likewise is somewhat unsettled a bit, 
wavering as to things under the circumstances; and as he 
appeared before us we see he too has caught it, for his flushed 
cheek and shining eyes show a high stage of the trouting 
fever coming on, from a hankering after the lakes. Compar- 
ing notes, we agree that the only medicine, pleasant to take, 
and a sure cure for this contagious fever, will be to take a 
trip to the camp. Accordingly, the next day saw us off for 
the bonny lakes. 
With the pung well stowed with such indispensable articles 
as were needed for the trip, and such stores as we were out 
of at camp, our toboggans tied upon the load, we drove out 
and through the town, lively with many teams and the busy 
hum and rustle of business. Away over the hills, holding up 
and stopping ever and often at the ‘‘turn out to pass by 
chances” on the way, to allow the many heavily loaded teams, 
nearly and often all the road. These always very numerous 
were more so this pleasant month, going to the village, often 
half a dozen or more in line. Many boxed up loads of pota- 
toes, covered with blankets and rugs to insure against freezing 
at starting (often before daylight) and later to keep off the 
sunshine. Heavy loads of leather from the tannery ; long and 
short lumber, shingles, knees, rift, butts, clapboards, pressed 
hay, grain, wood of all kinds, hemlock bark, and farmers 
with their exchanges. Nearly every team right merrily hurry- 
ing forward for town. Some slipping down the hills with 
break applied, others toiling up the rise beyond, to stop and 
chat with those already resting there, obliging us to break out 
