428. 



RECREA TION. 



cepting Florida, where they are well known 

 facts. 



At the risk of having my veracity ques- 

 tioned, I will venture to quote a fe'w of 

 them. 



We had been telling a friend of the won- 

 derful things which had happened on the 

 Indian river; and he had come South partly 

 on these representations. It is a fact that, 

 like children, these fish never perform, 

 when you want them to. Save for the few 

 dead fish along the shore (it was just after 

 a cold wave) there was no evidence in proof 

 of our statements. Our chagrin was com- 

 plete. 



One day we were crossing the river in a 

 steam launch, our dory trailing behind. 

 At a point about mid-way of the Indian 

 river, just above that gem of picturesque- 

 ness, the town of Eau Gallie, our friend 

 was twitting us about the impressive ab- 

 sence of wonderful things, in the finny line, 

 and we were defending ourselves as best we 

 could. Finally he asked. 



" Where are your fish with wings on 

 them — those pompano that can play skip- 

 ping rope ? " 



Just then there was a splash, a streak of 

 silver, and a pompano, of rare beauty, 

 leaped into the dory, curling and curving 

 all over the sides of the skiff, in its frantic 

 efforts to get out. At length it was ex- 

 hausted and lay panting in the bottom of 

 the boat — A living confirmation of all we 

 had said, and an utter confounding of our 

 doubting friend. 



On another occasion, while a party of 

 young people were returning from a frolic, 



a young woman was struck in the side by 

 one of these fish, with such force as to 

 seriously injure her and she was obliged to 

 keep her bed for several days. 



The pompano will leap for a light, and 

 there is danger in having a light in your 

 boat at night, for fear of their swamping it. 

 In running a naphtha launch at night the 

 noise of the machinery seems to startle 

 them, when they leap over it, from either 

 side, sometimes landing on top of the awn- 

 ing. At one time in trying to disentangle 

 our propeller, which had become clogged 

 with sea weeds, we extracted a pompano, 

 with a gash in his side, which had been 

 made by the flange. 



A party were returning from Sunday ser- 

 vices by boat, in true Venetian style, when 

 all hands, as is the custom here, dropped 

 their lines over-board, and began trolling 

 for blue fish. The minister's wife, greatly 

 scandalized, proceeded to lecture them on 

 the sinfulness of fishing on the Sabbath. 

 Just at the moment when she had waxed 

 most eloquent, and her hearers were 

 abashed, a large pompano leaped into her 

 lap. She ceased her sermon to admire, and, 

 admitting that in this country one must fish 

 whether one wants to or not, she joined in 

 the laugh and enjoyed the fun as much as 

 the others. 



The reason for the Indian river being so 

 remarkable for its fishing, is that it is a 

 lagoon, running parallel with the ocean, 

 and is cut into by numerous inlets. Its 

 warm waters and its abundant food make it 

 a favorite feeding and breeding ground for 

 the finny tribe. 



IN SYLVAN GLADES. 



ELIZABETH A. VORE. 



Through whispering pines, o'er brake and 

 brae, 



Where festive, dancing sunbeams play, 

 And aromatic breezes sway 



The low-hung bough— 

 My steed and I, companions meet 



For eerie sylvan retreat 

 Like winged arrow swift and fleet 



Haste onward now. 



A quail's note greets us as we pass — 



A low wh-i-r-r, and a rustle in the grass, 

 Where the faint wind's footsteps softly 

 pass 



On stirring reed and rush. 

 Yon singing thrush on swaying weed, 



Watching our reckless, headlong speed, 

 Breathless, from sheer surprise must need 



His sweet song hush. 



Oh noble steed lead ever on the way— 



We care not now for time, nor night, 

 nor day, 

 Some eerie spell our souls doth sway, 



Within this sylvan glade. 

 Here let us wander on for aye, 



Forever and forever and a day — 

 Bewitched are the feet that stray 



With the sma-folk of the shade. 



