shallows, and catch shiners in his palm- 

 leaf hat, but this was too childish sport 

 for him now. Shiners and pollywogs 

 might do for children, but he must have 

 fish-hooks, and a peeled alder pole, and 

 fish for trout in the deep holes. There 

 was no peace for his elders, until the 

 fish-hook and line had been obtained, 

 and the alder pole was of his own 

 making. 



Then whenever there was a holiday, 

 or an odd hour between light tasks that 

 were his, the alder pole might be seen 

 trailing behind the small boy, whose nim- 

 ble legs were carrying him at their top 

 pace, to the brook. 



His patience and natural love of fish- 

 ing brought many kinds of fish to the 

 willow stringer, that he carried in one 

 hand. There were trout and dace, red 

 fins and suckers, rock suckers and shiners. 



