112 A DAY UP THE RIVER. 



it's the air ; and another time it's the sun. — 

 The other day, Paddy Mooshlan drawled 

 out, ' Sure it was Friday — my honour would 

 not have the poor fish break their fast." 



" Well, I will not answer for the Friday's 

 fast," said the Captain ; " but the fact is, 

 that, compared with the moderate days, or 

 even the bad days of our calendar, the 

 number of real good fishing days is small 

 indeed." 



" That is the reason why one gets so dis- 

 gusted with the fishing-books," said the 

 Squire : " it is easy to catch fish on paper, 

 and they generously give you magnificent 

 days' sport, which, when you come to put 

 them into practice, turn out nothing better 

 than a Barmecide's feast." 



" And yet," said the Parson, " they tell 

 you the truth. There are few of us who 

 may not recollect one such day in the season, 

 or at least one such day in our lives. The 

 fault lies with ourselves ; we read of what 

 was done once, and expect to do it every 

 day." 



" It is a deceit, no less," said the Captain; 

 " if a book professes to give you directions 

 for everyday practice, and describes what 



