CHAPTER X 

 FISHING IN THE AIR 



ND so," said Walton, " if I might be judge, 

 God never did make a more calm, quiet, inno- 

 cent recreation than angling." Thus we have 

 the stamp of authority in favor of our sport, 

 and we may go ahead bravely, and, let us hope, acquire 

 merit. Walton made many interesting discoveries in his 

 jaunts afield, as well as in his philosophical diversions with 

 friends. None was more patent or far-reaching than this, 

 that in angling, the landing of the game was but a small part 

 of the sport. Nothing in nature escaped his eye, as he sat 

 holding the rod on the banks of some limpid stream, and out 

 of his abundant philosophy it is impossible not to gain the 

 impression that he made angling but the means to an end, 

 and that, life afield. Listen as he angles: 



" Nay, stay a little, good scholar. I caught my last Trout 

 with a worm ; now I will put on a minnow, and try a quarter 

 of an hour about yonder trees for another ; and, so, walk to- 

 wards our lodging. Look you, scholar, thereabout we shall 

 have a bite presently, or not at all. Have with you, Sir : o' 

 my word I have hold of him. Oh! it is a great logger- 

 headed Chub; come, hang him upon that willow twig and 

 let's be going. But turn out of the way a little, good 

 scholar ! toward yonder high honey-suckle hedge ; there we'll 

 sit and sing, whilst this shower falls so gently upon the teem- 

 ing earth, and gives yet a sweeter smell to the lovely flowers 

 that adorn these verdant meadows. 



" Look ! under that broad beech-tree I sat down, when I 

 was last this way a-fishing; and the birds in the adjoining 



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