180 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



flashing scales of the silver fish that had gladdened him 

 many a time before he knew the Master. 



It is one of the most pleasant and absorbing thoughts 

 which possess the traveller in those regions, that the 

 child Christ was a child among the hills of Galilee, 

 and loved them with all the gentle fervor of his human 

 soul. Doubtless many times before He had challenged 

 the fisher on the sea with that same question which we 

 anglers so frequently hear, " Have you taken any fish ? " 

 He may have often seen Peter and the others at their 

 work. Perhaps sometimes He had talked with them, 

 and, it may well be, gone with them on the sea, and 

 helped them. For they were kindly men, as fishermen 

 are always in all countries, and they loved to talk of their 

 work, and of a thousand other things, of which, in their 

 contemplative lives, they had thought without talking. 



In an age when few men were learned, and, in fact, 

 few in any grade or walk of life could even read or 

 write, I am inclined to think there was no class from 

 whom better trained intellects could be selected than 

 from among these thoughtful fishermen. They had 

 doubtless the Oriental characteristics of calmness and 

 reserve, and these had been somewhat modified by their 

 employment. Given to sober reflection, patient to in- 

 vestigate, quick to trust when their faith was demanded 

 by one whom they respected, slow to act when haste 

 was not necessary, prompt and swift on any emergency, 

 filled full of love for nature, all harsh elements of 

 character softened into a deep benevolence and pity and 



