208 PORTRAITS IN INK 



but brings each fast-hooked fish to boat or grass 

 with short shrift, whether it be plebeian pickerel, 

 eel, and pout, or patrician trout and bass. 



Despise him not in the day of small things, for 

 out of the abundance of his store many a light creel 

 has become heavy, and blank scores been made 

 reputable, to the credit of rods and flies quite in- 

 nocent of piscine blood. Also, it is well to remem- 

 ber that if he is somewhat greedy, there are those 

 no less so, who profess to be truer anglers than he. 



If he is touched by the fine and subtle influences 

 of nature, if he rejoices in the gladness of the birds, 

 the beauty of the flowers, the greenness of woods 

 and fields, the babble of waters, the glory of dawn 

 and sunset, he makes no sign. Yet he is a close ob- 

 server of what concerns his business, wise in the 

 manners and moods of fishes, and whoever studies 

 nature in any of her ways must in some sort be her 

 lover. 



He has the quaintness and originaUty that 

 flavor men who live much by themselves and think 

 their own thoughts, and if you approach him with- 

 out assumption of superiority, you will find him 

 an entertaining and profitable companion. 



