Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1894 — UNDER THE JUDGE’S NOSE. [ARTICLE]

UNDER THE JUDGE’S NOSE.

A Fisherman’s Funny Experience cm the Potomac. Years ago Judge Bibb was one of Washington’s best known celebrities, and a “gentleman of the old schooL” He was a famous fisherman, and so much devoted to angling that he waa regarded by our juvenile fishermen as a perfect walking (or boating) edition of Izaak Walton. “On a fine spring morning about two years since, I started, in company with a party of friends, for the Little Falls of the Potomac. We were ' prospecting’ the chances of rockfish, better known in your latitude as * striped bass. ’ It was quite early in the season, but not too early for Judge Bibb. He had arrived long before us, and sat upon a ledge of rock, rod in hand—the very picture of sentinel patience unrelieved. Hailing him from a distance, I asked, with the natural instinct of a fisherman : “What luck, Judge?” “ ‘Luck, sir? worst luck in the world, sir; been fishing here for four hours, and haven't had a nibble 1” “ ‘What bait are you using?’ “ ‘Capital bait; live frog, sir.’ “I ventured to suggest, mildly, that perhaps ‘live frog’ waa not such very ‘capital bait,’ whereupon the judge burst forth: “‘Don’t tell me, sir! you can’t teach me anything, sir! Don’t 1 know? Best bait in the world, sir; only the luck; awful luck! four hours without a nibble!’ “By this time we had reached the judge’s position, and while preparing our tackle Mr. D , one of the party observed a frog sitting on the bank, within a few feet of the judge. Said he: “ ‘Judge, let me catch a fresh bait for you. I see a frog on the bank, close beside yotf? “ ‘Thank you, sir; I wish you wquld catch that frog, sir, It’s been staring me in the face all the morning. I believe it knows that I have one of its family on my hook. Ha! ha! ha I Catch it, sir; by all means, catch it.* “Mr. 1) shortened his rod, and, cautiously striking with the sharp end, pinned the frog through one at its hinder legs. Just then, as Mr. D was lifting aloft his prize, thejudge began winding up his reed, and uttered a joyous cry: “‘Hold still, sir! Keep quiet Y I’ve got a bite I” “Rapidly wound the reel, rapidly came In tho slackening Mne, till the last few yards of It floated upon the surface of the stream; and then,with a face that boded thunder, the judge turned to Mr. D . “ ‘Why, sir, you’ve caught mgr frog!’ “And so it was. The frog, with the Impulse of all amphibious animals when wounded, had made for the shore; and there it had crouched, for four hours, directly under tho judge’s nose, and holding his hook out of water.