Monday, April 6, 2015

“Trout Fishing” by Eunice Lamberton

Trout StringerIn April 1888, Eunice B. Lamberton sold the Forge House and the Forge Tract, the present site of Old Forge today, to Samuel Garmon and Dr. Alexander Crosby.

Fifteen years earlier, according a note accompanying her poem: “These lines were written on the spur of the moment at the famous pool midway between Martin’s and Bartlett’s on the Saranac River- Adirondacks-as Mr. Lamberton ‘with split bamboo and a fly or two’ whipped the water.”  Her husband was Alexander B. Lamberton of Rochester.  The poem is frequently seen today on internet sites for fly-casting clubs today across the United States.

Trout Fishing  by Mrs. Eunice B Lamberton

Give me a rod of the split bamboo, a rainy day and a fly or two, a mountain stream where the eddies play, and mists hang low o’er the winding way.

Give me a haunt by the furling brook, a hidden spot in a mossy nook, no sound save hum of the drowsy bee, or lone bird’s tap on the hollow tree.

The world may roll with its busy throng, and phantom scenes on it’s way along, its stocks may rise, or it’s stocks may fall, ah! what care I for its baubles all?

I cast my fly o’er the troubled rill, luring the beauties by magic skill, with mind at rest and a heart at ease, and drink delight at the balmy breeze.

A lusty trout to my glad surprise, speckled and bright on the crest arise, then splash and plunge in a dazzling whirl, hope springs anew as the wavelets curl.

Gracefully swinging from left to right, action so gentle-motion so slight.

Tempting, enticing, on craft intent, till yielding tip by the game is bent.

Drawing in slowly, then letting go, under the ripples where mosses grow.

Doubting my fortune, lost in a dream, blessing the land of forest and stream.

– Rochester, N.Y. , December 15, 1873

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Since the early 1980s when Charles Herr purchased a camp in Inlet he has been interested in the history of the Fulton Chain region of the Adirondacks. He has been contributing history articles about the times and people of the Fulton Chain, covering transportation, steamboats, hotels and most importantly, the people to the Weekly Adirondack of Old Forge since November 2006.

His ambition is to uncover local and regional Fulton Chain history about people and events prior to 1930 and little covered in the histories of the region. He is the president of the Inlet Historical Society and presents summer programs on Inlet history at the Town Hall in Arrowhead Park in Inlet, NY. His book, The Fulton Chain-Early Settlement, Roads, Steamboats, Railroads and Hotels, was published in May 2017. More information is available at www.facebook.com/herrstory .




One Response

  1. Charles Herr says:

    Credit for the source of this poem should have been listed:
    http://saddogshirts.com/poem_links.php, Mark Minter.

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