THE ANGLER'S SOUVENIR. 



261 



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tollig3nc3 of purpose ; and there is, by the law of 

 contrast, a greater stimulus to seek fresh air and 

 freedom in country rambles and fishing excursions. 



When the rustic is an angler, however, he is 

 generally a character well worth knowing. He has 

 a store of practical wisdom, is full of old sayings, 

 quaint and pregnant with meaning ; is weatherwise, 

 and knows something of birds and beasts ; perhaps 

 has studied botany, especially as connected with 

 the art of healing : and, finally, has a simple, quiet 

 way with him, which is very attractive. 



It is easy to sketch his picture. 



A thunder-cloud is creeping over the small vil- 

 lage that nestles, red-roofed and picturesque, in 

 a typical English valley, blotting out the bright 

 blue sky, and shading the farmyard, so that the 

 frightened fowls run under the hayricks to be out 

 of danger. 



The village street is deserted, save for two dogs 

 standing panting at opposite doorways. Look in 

 at one of the windows, in which are a few articles 

 that betoken that there resides the village cobbler. 

 By the open window the cobbler sits, with his 

 last upon his knee, and hammering away as if he 

 thought of nothing but business in the world. He 

 is a man of middle height, thin and bent, not with 

 any great age, for he is only fifty, but through the 

 nature of his calling. His hair is grey, and some- 

 what straggling and curly. As he hammers away, 

 his brow is bent and his look troubled, as if the fate 



