10 FLY-FISHING IN MAINE LAKES. 



the sea in ships," and who were wont to cast their 

 nets in the blue waters of the Galilee. 



"But, my dear sir," say you, "that was their 

 business, and not a pastime." 



" True enough ; but do you not believe that there 

 was something in the very nature of their calling 

 that especially fitted them for the great work they 

 were to perform?" 



" Well, admit it, for the sake of the argument : 

 what then ? 



" Simply this : if the life of a fisherman has that 

 about it that provokes a healthy body and a noble 

 soul, is it a weakness for us to choose for a recrea- 

 tion, and love it too, that which brings us into a 

 more intimate communion with nature, and teaches 

 us to look up with feelings of reverence and love, 

 from the most beautiful of created things, to Him 

 that has created them?" 



Oh, yes, my friend ! if I could only make you 

 appreciate the true delights of the angler's pastime 

 as I feel it, there would be less of the fashionable 

 watering-place sojournings, I warrant you. " Come," 

 said I to one who could not find an opportunity 

 to leave his business for more than two or three 

 days at a time, " come with me : leave these piles 

 of brick and mortar for a couple of weeks at least, 

 and inhale the pure air of the mountains ; wander 



