178 THE SAXON CHARACTER. 



philosophic cockney. In bottom-fishing, the perse- 

 vering character of the Saxon is developed. He pur- 

 sues it with that intensity of purpose that guides 

 him in his greater actions, and renders him capable 

 of performing the highest. He prepares himself for 

 a bottom-fishing campaign, as carefully as if he 

 were starting on a voyage of discovery. He 

 neglects nothing that may tend to his success. 

 The fox-hunter and fowler laugh at him, little 

 suspecting that the very bottom-fisher there, 

 watching his float so anxiously from his punt, may 

 be a first-rate horseman or shot ; and that he has 

 the wisdom of being satisfied with amusement at 

 hand, waiting for that which at the present time 

 s not. To be amused with harmless trifles in 

 proper season is the acme of practical happiness 



When we cannot make love to the lips that we love, 

 We can always make love to the lips that are near. 



The fly-fisher will very readily become an ex- 

 pert bottom-fisher. He understands already the 

 use, in the most trying situations, of rod, line, 

 winch, and hook. Pie has a quick eye and a quick 

 and light hand, and will easily apprehend all the 

 arcana of bait-fishing. All he requires to know 

 is the baits he must use, and a hint or two respect- 

 ing the best manner of using them. He knows 

 already the habits of the salmon family; he will 

 soon learn the monotonous ones of the carp tribe. 



