TROUT FISHING ON THE ANDROSCOGAN. 29 



my belt, and only did I begin to feel in a placid frame 

 of mind after I had smoked an inch of my morning 

 cigar. Tobacco divine tobacco ! how much does 

 irascible man owe you ! Companion in our solitude, 

 amuser in our idleness, and soother in our troubles, 

 what happy fancies and castles in the air can we build 

 whilst watching thy smoke curling gracefully towards 

 the azure heavens or dingy roof- tree ! What henpecked 

 husband has not enjoyed your soothing influence when 

 he has escaped to the safety of his sanctum ? The 

 lords of creation owe much to the taste and good 

 sense of Sir Walter Raleigh, the ladies little un- 

 doubtedly the reason that he lives less vividly in our 

 memories than his deserts. 



About an hour before sunset I returned to the field 

 of action, armed, however, with a strong bait-rod and 

 a bait-kettle filled with well-selected minnows and 

 chubs. With a determination equal to the undertak- 

 ing of the most arduous and hazardous enterprise, I 

 mounted a minnow-tackle (don't turn away, gentle 

 fisherman, to hide your blushes ; any apologies which 

 are due, I freely tender ; remember the aggravation I 

 had suffered), and boldly stalked into the water, a short 

 way above where my tormentor domiciled. In working 

 my way down, I killed several of the smaller gentry, 

 but with these I dealt most cavalierly, they being far 



