A FISHERMAN’S HOPES OF FUTURE BLISS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 670, 19 February 1875, Page 3

A FISHERMAN’S HOPES OF FUTURE BLISS.

—o— Some of the inhabitants who attended church regularly, but who had never experienced a change of heart, had strange ideas of the future state, which was all the more remarkable as the genuine orthodox doctrine was preached to them every Sunday. A short distance north of the village was a small fishing hamlet, the inhabitants of which were known as “Grinders,” and the most bitter rivalry existed between them and the fishermen of the village- They pursued their calling on the same ocean, braved the same dangers, and frequently, in storms, had to seek the same refuse; but the cloud of enmity which threw its shadow between them never for an instant seemed to lessen, but as time passed grew larger and blacker. During the herring season a fith similar in appearance to a shark, but no larger than a cod, known by the fisherman as a sea -dog, made its appearance on the coast in great numbers, and committed dreadful ravages amon» the herrings, literally destroying whole “ schools ” and frequently destroying them when they were caught in the nets. One of the fishermen, a regular attender of the Presbyterian Church, being on his deathbed, his friends, anxious for his future welfare, thought to ask him some questions in regard to his spiritual condition. “Well, Rab, ye’e dyin’, ye ken »” “ Aye, Jamie, I’m gaun.” “An’ where d’ye expect t’ gau t’ ?” I dinna ken, Jamie, bit I wad like t’ turn inf a’ sea-dog an’ plunder the Grinders’ nets.” And thus he died.—Atlantic Monthly.