24 SPRING-TIDE. 



J. A beautiful fish. I wish I could 

 cast a line with your skill. 



S. You will soon do that. I am a poor 

 hand, compared with many whom I have 

 met ; but the race is not to the swift, nor 

 the battle to the strong ; and a habit of 

 observation as to the haunts of fish will 

 often compensate for some want of skill. 

 Still, to be able to cast a long and light 

 line to a great distance, is an unquestion- 

 able advantage. It is amusing to see a 

 green fisherman whipping away at a fish 

 that lies just out of his reach, till by and 

 by a rustic-looking personage appears by 

 his side, bearing a rod whose staff is like 

 a weaver's beam, and, with a " I thenks 

 / can put it auver hin," swash goes the 

 aforesaid staff, out goes the line some 

 twenty- five yards or so, and in a twink- 

 ling a big trout is plunging at the end 

 of it. 



J. I am surprised to find so many fish 



