4 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



quite at a loss how to proceed, finding to my no small discomfiture 

 that my line, which I had tied to the extremity of my rod, was as 

 much too long as the latter was too short, so that it was with the 

 greatest difficulty I could succeed in getting my hook and float 

 into the water, and then not half far enough from the shore for 

 me to stand a chance of getting a bite, an inconvenience all my 

 companions experienced to a greater or a lesser degree ; yet there 

 we continued to fish away hour after hour without obtaining a 

 single fish to reward our labours, or even a nibble to encourage 

 our hopes ; till at length our better fortune led us to a small brook 

 that ran into the pond, where our lines had not been long in the 

 water when, to our great joy and delight, Dick's float, after one or 

 two jerks and bobs, disappeared entirely under water, and out Dick 

 whacked a little unwary trout of about two ounces weight ; but 

 this being the first real trout we had ever seen, never I believe 

 was any strange monster of the deep inspected with greater curio- 

 sity. And here ended our sport for that day, and heartily tired 

 were we with our exertions long ere we reached home ; yet nothing 

 daunted with our ill success, we again sallied forth on our next 

 half holiday, when we were even more unsuccessful than before, as 

 the day turned out a total blank, notwithstanding the box full of 

 holes was this time put in requisition, and which had been forgot- 

 ten in the hurry of the previous start. Now this really blank day, 

 and a bitter cold one into the bargain, so disconcerted my two 

 brothers that they signified their intentions of relinquishing the 

 pursuit, till the season should be sufficiently advanced to afford 

 them a more favorable chance of success. Dick and I however 

 still persevered in our labours, and every half holiday, and which 

 occurred on Wednesdays and Saturdays, let the weather be what it 

 might, did we trudge off to tempt our fortune, who to me was for 

 a long time mostunpropitious, for Dick sometimes did catch a small 

 perch or two, and occasionally some little heedless trout, whilst I 

 was doomed still in vain to hope even for a nibble. Thus matters 

 proceeded till Easter Monday, (an eventful day in my fishing 

 career,) which being a whole holiday, and mild weather having at 

 last set in, my two brothers again united themselves to our party, 

 and on that memorable day it was that my anxious hopes, which 

 had been so long delayed, were at last to be rewarded with success. 

 I had taken the advantage of a breeze off shore to get my line 

 three or four yards out into the pond, my bait a piece of dough, 



