MULTIPLYING AND MAGNIFYING POWERS. 391 



and philosophically repeated as we travelled across those 

 breezy uplands — 



" Happy the man who, studying nature's laws, 

 From known effects can trace the secret cause." 



— The Rod and the Gun. 



EXAGGERATION. 



We do not here desire to dwell upon that painful 

 portion of the character of certain anglers— of whom 

 the present reader is not one — which induces them to 

 magnify their captures both in size and number. We 

 have met with many men who never killed a trout under 

 a pound weight, even by accident, and who never angle 

 for an hour or two before breakfast or after lunch — -this 

 is their easy tooth-pick way of talking — without luring 

 to destruction several dozens. We know that we dined 

 lately in company — a person can't always choose his 

 friend's companions — with one of these same boasters, 

 who told the frequent tale of weight and number. Of 

 the latter we were somewhat careless, but curious ex- 

 ceedingly about the former, because, for a special purpose, 

 we were anxious to obtain that very night a well-sized 

 trout. We asked if he had brought his finny captures 

 home beneath the roof where we were then rejoicing ?— 

 the answer, " To be sure." Feeling ourselves at ease, and 

 receiving an approving nod from our hospitable } 



