t8o 



TJie American A/i^/fr 



•and he could hear the music of the 

 rushing waters, and imagine he was 

 playing- a game bass in the quiet pool. 

 Often during the winter months did he 

 repeat the fishing experiences of '94 on 

 the Maumee rapids and his narrow 

 escape from being disgraced. There 

 ■was one memory, one secret the world 

 knew nothing of — it was the memory of 

 Alice Van Dyke. He was impatient 

 for the return of spring, freeing the 

 rapids from, their icy fetters, or h^ar 

 that the river had fallen to its summer 

 course, outlining the familiar rififles and 

 pools, underneath the ledges of which a 

 new stock of game bass were waiting 

 the anglers' tempting lures. 



About a year had elapsed when Harry 

 received the summons from the good 

 doctor, that the river was in fine condi- 

 tion and the bass in great fighting con- 

 dition and plentiful. No angler who 

 had ever made a cast in the Maumee 

 rapids was more heartily welcomed to 

 the village of Waterville, and whose 

 summer angling was rewarded with 

 greater success than Harry Vinton, and 

 when the tinted leaves were falling, 

 loosened by autumn's winds, and the 

 sunsets gleamed with a golden glow 

 across the fields of ripening grain, there 

 was a quiet wedding in the village church, 

 and the minister pronounced Harry Vin- 

 ton and Alice Van D3-ke man and wife. 



ANGLING QUANTRAINS. 



INCONGRUITV. 



Stood the bard in contemplation by the softly purling stream, 

 Where each gentle undulation shone with sunlight all agleam ; 

 And he wondered how these glories, where Truth's echo seemed to dwell, 

 Could give rise to all the stories that home-coming anglers tell. 



SELF PUNISHED. 



The man who does not love the hook and reel. 

 And varied pleasures rod and line afford. 



Lacks life's best recreation, nor may feel 

 The inspiration of its rich reward. 



AS WALTON SAID IT. 



Doubtless the Lord, as gentle Walton said, 

 Of certain luscious fruitage, foliage hid, 



A nobler sport than angling might have made. 

 But doubtless, I am sure, He never did. 



F. C. RiEHL. 



