Page:History of Goodhue County, Minnesota.djvu/540

 460 HISTORY OF GOODHUE COUNTY gallon — and taking position behind the wall, near the window, watehed the movements below. Some time elapsed with no results. Meantime he stood and watched. At length came the sound of the bell with still increased volume, and simultaneously out went the contents of the pitcher, followed by the joyous outcry. 'I hit the biggest fellow squarely in the face! I guess they'll stop now.' And they did. [Editors Xote — In a published account of this affair, appear- ing in the Rev. Hancock's "History of Goodhue County," Judge Wilder has made the following annotation: "Mr. Hancock omits the point of this story. Ten years later I learned I had been 'sold.* Air. Pratt, by the use of a cord, rang the bell himself. — E. T. AY."] "The first religious service I attended in Red Wing was in July. 1856, in the seminary building of (lie Hemline University. A local preacher, not now in the city, officiated. I remember nothing of his sermon, further than thai by way of illustration he presented to his congregation by a word picture a pig which, trying to force itself through ;i rail fence, finds itself caught so that it can move neither forward nor backward. On his way from meeting, .Mr. Pratt, being in the company, suddenly stopped and with ;i lone and expression of anxiety said, 'Hold on. Judge, 1 have to go back.' 'Why, what's the matter?' Why, don't you hear thai poor pig squal? I must go back and get him out of the fence.' "In those days tin- range of amusements was limited, and sports of the field and streams had many votaries. Allow me to photograph one feature of a fishing trip and a single hunting trip. As soon as the ice in the river was known to be firm, parties eonld In' seen, each with his blanket, spear and decoy, at an early morning hour, moving with dignity toward the favorite runway for the day's sport. The language of the thermometer was ignored. Twenty or twenty-five below prevented no one from keeping a previous engagement. Reaching the designated point, the first step was to build upon the bank a big log fire, the next to cut the number of holes and then commenced the work of the day. Seated upon the ice under his blanked, with spear in one hand and the string of his decoy in the other, the sportsman woidd watch for his prey, until by reason of his cramped position his limbs uttered their protest, then join his comrades at the fire, swap yarns, roast and eat salt pork, and then again take up his spear and decoy for the second installment of what some of you would characterize as discomfort and folly. Again and again I have heard the question. 'What pleasure can there be in this?' If I could take one of the skeptics under my blanket and compel him to keep perfectly still, the answer would readily be given.