220 THE SAXON CHARACTER. 



character of the Saxon is developed. He pursues 

 it with that intensity of purpose, that guides him 

 in his greater actions, and renders him capable of 

 performing the highest. He prepares himself for a 

 bottom-fishing campaign as carefully as if he were 

 starting on a voyage of discovery. He neglects 

 nothing that may tend to his success. The fox- 

 hunter and fowler laugh at the bottom-fisher, little 

 suspecting that that very bottom-fisher watching 

 his float so anxiously from his punt may be a first- 

 rate horseman or shot, and that he has the 

 wisdom of being satisfied with amusement at hand, 

 waiting for that which at the present time is not. 

 To be amused with harmless trifles in proper 

 season is the acme of practical happiness 



" When we cannot make love to the lips that we love, 

 We can always make love to the lips that are near." 



The fly-fisher will very readily become an ex- 

 pert bottom-fisher. He understands already the 

 use of rod, line, winch, and hook in the most 

 trying situations. He has a quick eye and a quick 

 and light hand, and will easily apprehend all the 

 arcana of bait-fishing. All he requires to know 

 is the baits he must use, and a hint or two respect- 

 ing the best manner of using them. He knows 

 already the habits of the salmon family, he will 

 soon learn the monotonous ones of the carp tribe, 



