WE GO A-FISHING 



AT daylight all was bustle and preparation 

 for a fishing trip to Fire Island; one 

 would think from the excitement of the chil- 

 dren that we went fishing but once a year in- 

 stead of once a week, and that the prospect of 

 catching a fish was something altogether un- 

 usual. I do not remember a more perfect 

 morning. When Arthur and I started down to 

 the boat to see that all was ready, an iridescent 

 mist hung over the bay, and the distant high- 

 lands down toward Fire Island were tipped 

 with fire. The air was cool enough to make 

 one relish the idea that the sun would be warm 

 in a few hours, and there was enough promise 

 of a breeze to warrant a start as soon as break- 

 fast had been disposed of. It was a pleasure 

 even to jump aboard the Nelly and get her 

 ready for her thirty-mile trip. The man who 

 does not love the water and a boat can scarcely 



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