ANGLING. 251 



789. To those who have no feeling on this subject, 

 angling might be supposed to want that kind of excite- 

 ment, which we have* described as necessary to healthful 

 exercise. But if such a one will only just touch on the 

 subject in presence of a " lover of the rod," he will find 

 his mistake : for there is certainly not a more enthusiastic 

 body of men on the subject of sportive recreations, or 

 rather recreation, than the anglers ; and to these, there- 

 fore, it presents a source of all the mental exhilaration, 

 both as a conservative and curative means, which could 

 be desired. 



790. But the uninitiated and the ignorant are ready to 

 inquire, " From what source can this interest, this excite- 

 ment, arise ?" To which inquiry we will reply, for we have 

 more than once been witness to the intense feeling which 

 men of gravity, and of sound minds, exhibit on such oc- 

 casions. 



791. In the first place, then, an early breakfast, and a 

 ride of several miles on a May morning, with the expecta- 

 tion of a fine day (that is, a little cloudy), and fine luck, 

 are preliminaries by no means wanting in interest. 



792. When arrived at the trout-brook, there is the 

 preparation of inserting the joints of the poles, of fixing the 

 lines, and seeing to the bait, during which nothing else 

 can be thought of. But now the chief source of mental 

 excitement begins. 



793. The hook all baited, and ready, is thrown into 

 the water, and perhaps a bite is instantly felt ; or as is 

 sometimes the case, possibly the trout may jump out of the 

 water and seize it ; and who could avoid feeling at such 

 a beginning ? What cold heart could remain unmoved 

 with such a crown of success ? But if no fish jumps up to 

 welcome the bait ; if no bite, not even a nibble is felt, 

 still the excitement does not fail, for what is not realized is 

 every instant expected, and therefore, from the very nature 

 of the case, the mind is constantly occupied, the brain con- 

 tinually excited, and nothing but the expected bite can be 

 thought of. 



794. And then, after an early breakfast, a ride and a 

 walk along the limpid, gurgling stream, with the mind in- 

 tensely fixed on an object then comes on an animal sen- 



