The Simfish Family 45 



men. One was a fly-fisher, the other a bait-fisher. 

 Each was a devotee to his especial mode of ang- 

 ling, though generously tolerant of the other's 

 method. They had fished together for years 

 when the dogwood and redbud blossomed in 

 the spring, and when the autumnal tints clothed 

 the hillsides with scarlet and gold. 



They differed in their methods of fishing from 

 choice, or from some peculiar, personal idiosyn- 

 crasy, for each was an adept with both bait and 

 fly. But this difference in their piscatorial prac- 

 tices, like the diversity of nature, produced per- 

 fect harmony instead of discord. Each extolled 

 the advantages and sportsmanship of his own 

 method, but always in a brotherly and kindly 

 manner; never dictatorial or opinionated in ar- 

 gument, or vainglorious and boastful as to his 

 skill, for both were possessed of the generous 

 impulses of gentlemen and the kindly influences 

 of the gentle art. Moreover, they were innately 

 conscious of a common aim, and differed only as 

 to the ways and means of best attaining that end, 

 which, while dissimilar, were not inharmonious. 



And so the Silver Doctor and the Golden 

 Shiner, as they dubbed each other, went trudging 

 along the bank of the merry stream together. 



