THE BOY 189 



pervading sliminess of whose final capture makes 

 memorable the hour and the day thereof. Perhaps 

 a hungry and not too fastidious pickerel or pike- 

 perch or bass may gorge the worm-indued hook 

 and be hauled ashore, and then the measure of the 

 boy's glory is filled and the capacity of his trousers 

 to contain him tried to the utmost. 



Though he goes home with a beggarly account 

 of small fry dangling at the end of his withe, he is 

 unabashed, if not proud, and hopeful for another 

 day. But if it is strung so full that his arms ache 

 with lugging it, what pride fills his heart as he dis- 

 plays his fish ! Till they are eaten and digested he 

 ceases to be a "no-account boy." He cleans them 

 and enjoys it. Every scale is a cent, bright from 

 the mint, and he catches each fish over again as 

 he takes it up. He recognizes his worms in their 

 maws. When they are cooked, whoever tasted 

 fish so good? 



The boy is no more a contemplative angler than 

 he is a gentle one, and he does not of choice go 

 fishing alone. He would rather go with the re- 

 nowned old fisherman of the neighborhood and 

 learn something of the mysteries of his art, but 

 that worthy does not overmuch desire the com- 

 panionship of youthful anglers. So perforce the 

 young fisherman goes with another boy and has 

 some one to "holler" to, compare notes with, 

 and enter into rivalry with, and he can say with 



