18 



RECREATION. 



was like that of a discharge of a cannon. 

 This was repeated every moment or 2 

 throughout the roost during the entire 

 night, causing such excitement and noise 

 as one could witness nowhere else and 

 which it is difficult to describe. Poor crea- 

 tures ! After flying hundreds of miles to 

 seek repose it was more like going to battle 

 than to bed ! 



With our baskets filled with blazing pine 

 knots, and our clubs, not over 15 inches in 

 length and an inch in thickness, we began 

 the assault on the feathered legions. The 

 light so blinded their eyes that we went 

 right among them, and from the low limbs 

 and bushes we swiped them right and left. 

 Sometimes on a low limb there were a 

 dozen sitting in a row, and with a long, 

 swinging stroke at their necks we brought 

 down several. We noticed that unless we. 

 hit their head or broke their wings, they 

 would nearly always escape ; and a hard 

 blow on the back, knocking the bird 10 or 

 12 feet, almost always resulted in his flying 

 away. 



Sometimes they were so tame and so un- 

 conscious of danger that we plucked them 

 from the low limbs and bushes as you 

 would pluck apples, and pushed them into 

 our sacks. When exhausted from the ex- 

 citement and labor of wielding our clubs, 



we rested, as there was no danger of the 

 birds' leaving until morning. 



Long after midnight, exhausted but filled 

 with pleasant excitement, and with 2 bushel 

 bags full of pigeons, we withdrew to find 

 our horses and get some needed rest. This 

 was more difficult than we had expected, 

 for we had been so absorbed in the exciting 

 sport that we did not bear in mind how far 

 or in what direction we Went. After reach- 

 ing our little camp, I concluded to empty 

 one of the bags of pigeons and count them. 

 From the heap one of them quietly flew 

 away. He had merely been stunned and 

 had recovered. 



We slept soundly, notwithstanding the 

 great commotion around us, and were up 

 soon after daylight. Just at sunrise I saw 

 this feathered host arise in one vast cloud 

 that darkened the sun, circle around the 

 great roost, and rest a moment on the top- 

 most branches. With the sun shining on 

 them they resembled a great purple sea ! 

 Then, breaking up into small detachments, 

 they began to depart for the great grain 

 fields of the Northwest. 



Soon we were on our way to camp, smok- 

 ing our pipes, discussing our wonderful ex- 

 perience, and speculating on pigeon pic, 

 which we had in abundance for the next 

 few days. 



APOSTROPHE TO A TROUT. 



J. B. CURRIE. 



Ho, ho ! my lusty trout ! 



At last I've hauled you out ! 



Ten times across your track 



I threw my Spanish Black ! 



Ten times against the wind 



I threw my Jenny Lind ! 



Drake, Moth, and Midge did duty, 



To tempt my speckled beauty ; 



But all, alas ! in vain ! 



You snubbed them with disdain ; 



Scarce sniffed them, as you rose, 



With piscatorial nose. 



Your tastes were animal, 



Nay, somewhat cannibal ; 



You fancied cleric bait, 



Determined to await 



My Parson's gorgeous gown, 



Which soon came floating down 



Toward that whirling eddy, 



Where you were making ready 



To curve your sinuous back, 



And make a fierce attack ! 



It came ; you saw, and took 



That Parson, with a hook ! 



You rose, you seized him quick ! 



That Parson did the trick ! 



Nay, gently ! Do not squirm, 



I hold you safe and firm. 



Lor ! How the boys will stare 



At you, my bonnie fare ! 



Nay, softly now, be still ! 



My hook is in your gill. 



You'll weigh, I trow, six pounds ! 



You'll measure twenty. . . . Zounds 



He's gone ! Oh, for my gaff ! 



Lor ! How the boys will chaff ! 



Skinflint — If anything should happen to 

 me, dearest, you will be all right. I've just 

 insured my life. 



Young Bride — But suppose nothing does 

 happen to you? — Life. 



