THE RED COW 



old-time thrill, but it is no use explaining that min- 

 nows less than two inches long, that are too small 

 to be hooked, are the fish most active in this kind 

 of work. I know that they are just as likely to 

 catch a finnan haddie or dried codfish or canned 

 salmon as a fish of any size, but I wouldn't dampen 

 their ardour for anything. As a matter of fact, I 

 am inclined to approve of their enthusiasm, for I 

 find that the chores go through with a rush since 

 the fishing began. All I need to do is to let them 

 wring a reluctant promise from me that if they 

 hurry through with the chores they can go fishing. 

 After offering enough opposition to make the favour 

 seem great I give a grudging consent and the chores 

 go through with a rush. And at bed-time (new 

 time) a couple of wet and muddy boys come home, 

 very tired and very hungry. Though they bring 

 no fish they have had such monstrous bites that they 

 are sure there are big fish there, only they are too 

 cute to swallow the baited hooks. Some day they 

 are going to catch a whale, and then they will show 

 me. What would youth be without its faith in the 

 possibilities of fishing and such things ? 



Right here an interruption has occurred. I might 

 have known when I was writing that first paragraph 



252 



