204 ANGLING. 



who never angle for an hour or two before break- 

 fast or after lunch this is their easy tooth-pick 

 way of talking, without luring to destruction seve- 

 ral dozens. We know that we dined lately in com- 

 pany a person can't always choose his friend's 

 companions, with one of these same boasters, who 

 told the frequent tale of weight and number. Of 

 the latter, we were somewhat careless, but curious 

 exceedingly about the former, because, for a special 

 purpose, we were anxious to obtain that very night 

 a well-sized trout. We asked if he had brought 

 his finny captures home beneath the roof where we 

 were then rejoicing? the answer, " to be sure." 

 Feeling ourselves at ease, and receiving an approv- 

 ing nod from our hospitable host himself a single- 

 minded man, as full of truth as two eggs, we rang 

 the bell, and desired an agreeable looking footman 

 " to please to pick" from the different panniers a 

 few of the largest t routs which had been captured 

 during that blessed day. He speedily returned, 

 bearing a splendid assiette of China's purest clay, 

 our friend is rather proud of his eastern ware, and 

 his old housekeeper knows that failing well, with 

 slant-eyed Mandarins, their pipe in hand, small 

 footed damsels, drinking from cups that cheer but 

 not inebriate, bridges high in air, and swallows and 

 summer-houses mingling together in the clouds ; 

 but for the " take of trouts," Oh! what a falling off 

 was there, my countrymen ! Where were the couple- 

 of-pounders now ? There were a few of three- 

 quarters of a pound (and pretty fish these same) 

 ascertained, however, by a red thread through their 



