86 AN ANGLER'S BASKET. 



The scoffer has said that Ananias was the first angler. 



In my opinion he was either a book hawker or a company 

 promoter. 



* * 



Cold ? I have been as stiff as Lot's wife after the 

 accident happened, but that is all part of the fun. 



I would write to the papers on the subject, but that we 

 have no daily paper in our village, though they tell me there 

 is a sewing meeting, which is just as good. 



We Christians all love one another, but, naturally, we love 

 some less than others, and that you cannot deny. A pretty 

 kettle of fish there would be if we loved some more than 

 others ; if you are unable to follow this reasoning your 

 mother-in-law might supply the necessary information. 



I am very well aware there are men, and some of them 

 anglers, too, who tell us this is a practical age, that poetry is 

 dead, and that the only aim and end of angling is to catch 

 fish. They might as well tell us the aim and end of smoking 

 is to be sick. 



* * 



A juvenile of my acquaintance who had been contemplating 

 Christmas in its most dreadful aspect, described it as " only 

 a greedy Sunday." 



* * 



Next to an ambitious youth struggling lovingly with a 

 reluctant moustache, there is no more pathetic sight than a 

 six-foot man vainly endeavouring to inveigle a three-ounce 

 trout. 



