JACK - O' - LANTERN 



An old man saw a vision, a young man 

 dreamed a dream: so did they depart into 

 the wilderness to seek in vain, and yet to 

 find great content; for chill failure is not 

 in the missing of the quarry, but in losing 

 delight of the chase. This blackest day 

 dawns late or never at all for the fisherman. 

 His spirit fares out adventurously from the 

 fireside to waters remoter than any his flies 

 have touched; the old dog at his feet 

 whimpers and twitches in courses more 

 daring than ever he ran. Stifif of limb and 

 short of breath, disdaining to profit by ex- 

 perience, they dash hopefully after elusive 

 things, showing but a decent surprise, a 

 brief pretence of regret, when their spar- 

 rows take to wing. What perishes not in 

 realization has its place forever among the 

 treasures incorruptible by moth and rust. 

 And so it is not alone those rare pages re- 

 cording success we love to turn, over 

 which we linger. One of the many days 

 which no red-letter distinguishes, per- 

 chance may set a-dancing for you some 

 ancient Will-o'-the-wisp to lead you again, 

 unreluctant, through swamp and tangle. 

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