PLEASURES OF ANGLING. 37 



emotions experienced when, fully mounted, the 

 happy rider " whips " his way through trout-brook 

 and salmon-pool, buoyant in spirit, inhaling new 

 life and vigor with every breath of the pure moun- 

 tain air which environs him, with his heart pulsa- 

 ting as if every drop of blood was an electric 

 battery, with every nerve thrilled by the rush and 

 swirl preluding the coveted " strike," with the 

 well-poised line, tensioned by the "pull" of a 

 twenty pound salmon, droning out seolian music, 

 and with every nerve and fibre thrumming an ac- 

 companiment, embodying more of entrancing mel- 

 ody than ever Strauss or Paganini dreamed of. 

 "With such a " hobby," susceptible of exciting such 

 pleasurable emotions, upon which to take an oc- 

 casional ramble through " the green pastures and 

 beside the still waters " of life, should it be deemed 

 strange that anglers are merry men, contemplative 

 philosophers and enthusiasts in their love of all 

 that is grand and beautiful and sublime in nature ? 

 I am glad to know that the number who ride 

 this harmless " hobby " is constantly increasing. 

 When men through eleven months of weary toil 

 and labor can find pleasure in anticipating the 

 coming of the month " of all the year the best," 

 when they will find inexpressible delectation in 

 admiring the graceful movements of the swaying 

 forest, in reposing beneath its genial shades, in list- 



