56 TROUT FISHING 



best days and forget our worst ; and how we ex- 

 pect that every day of the coming year will bring 

 us unprecedented success, and unparalleled plea- 

 sure. Now take out the books. Here is one 

 with furs, a squirrel's white-tipped tail peeps 

 already at us ; and hare's flax, rabbit's flax, and 

 water-rat's we are sure cannot be far off. Here 

 is another containing similar treasures ; but now 

 comes the most valuable, the highest treasured 

 of all the book with hackles, oh these precious 

 beauties! Does one project beyond its especial 

 case ? Take it gently, handle it respectfully, and 

 place it tenderly where no harm can reach it, 

 where it may rest undisturbed; by the leaves 

 turned over in search for some particular feather 

 you know is placed in its proper and appropriate 

 position, refresh your memory with another view 

 of these rare feathers, and assort each and all 

 carefully, that you may know where, at a thought, 

 to put your hand on the very one of the exact 

 shade you may require yes, but the books are 

 full, and of what how do you know what furs 

 and what feathers will be useful and necessary ? 

 Of the former, many of the latter, a few. For 

 furs, we cannot well do without, for general fish- 

 ing, the hare's flax, and a word about this. Hares, 

 everybody knows, have different colours in dif- 

 ferent parts of their bodies, and all hares are not 

 of the same colour, and we must have the flax of 

 many of various colours, each placed separately, 

 in a convenient place by itself. Now first catch 

 your hare, and let this one be an old Jack hare, 



