WE GO A-FISHING. 



A T daylight all was bustle and preparation 

 ** for a fishing trip to Fire Island ; one 

 would think from the excitement of the chil- 

 dren that we went fishing but once a year in- 

 stead of once a week, and that the prospect of 

 catching a fish was something altogether un- 

 usual. I do not remember a more perfect 

 morning. When Arthur and I started down 

 to the boat to see that all was ready, an iri- 

 descent mist hung over the bay, and the distant 

 highlands down toward Fire Island were tipped 

 with fire. The air was cool enough to make 

 one relish the idea that the sun would be warm 

 in a few hours, and there was enough promise 

 of a breeze to warrant a start as soon as break- 

 fast had been disposed of. It was a pleasure 

 even to jump aboard the Nelly and get her 

 ready for her thirty-mile trip. The man who 

 does not love the water and a boat can scarcely 

 understand such joy as this ; but to me and to 

 105 



