194 THE BOEDER ANGLEE. 



by our river-sides. We never grudge a few minntes 

 to look for the nest of the sand-piper or the water- 

 owzel — to have a helter-skelter chase down the stream 

 after a brace of flappers which with a despairing quack 

 finally run their heads into some hole or bush, whence 

 they may be drawn — or even to watch the sly water- 

 rat as he swims boldly across the pool, and then 

 catching a sudden glimpse of the onlooker dives like 

 lightning, and may be seen running along the bot- 

 tom to his hole. The angler, it is true, to be success- 

 ful must resume as far as possible original instincts, 

 constant alertness, vigilance of eye, readiness of hand, 

 craft and cunning. If a man, with his fly in the water, 

 is dreaming about a mathematical problem or the last 

 change of government, it is a second or so before he 

 recalls his thoughts sufliciently to remember that that 

 tug at his line ought to have been the signal for in- 

 stant striking ; he raises his rod clumsily and in a 

 hurry, but the fish is gone. When he is fishing, there- 

 fore, let nothing divert him from it, and let him work 

 as " a poor man for a good stipend," with his master 

 superintending him. But lay down the rod occasion- 

 ally and look about you ; " mingle with the universe" 

 as well as you may, and take your pleasure out of this 

 beautiful earth as your capacity enables you. Kemem- 

 ber the reverent hearts with which the old anglers went 

 to their recreation ; and read sometimes the memorable 

 conversation of the father of your craft with his pupil, 

 — the best of all sermons on the text " the meek shall 

 inherit the earth" — which terminated within sight of 

 Tottenham High-Cross : — " And this, and most other 

 blessings, we enjoy daily. And for most of them, be- 



