Fly-Fifhing. 47 



of line with your left hand thus, you muft then 

 fend the baited hook with a jerk into the water. 

 Let it fink nearly to the bottom ; then draw it, 

 not too faft, towards the furface of the water, 

 ftepping gradually back, till you bring it near the 

 ftiore. 



Clencus. From feeing your tackle, and hearing 

 your explanation, I could eafily imitate it, and, I 

 think, ufe it too. 



Old Soldier. Books are very well in their way, 

 but you will learn more in an hour's walk with a 

 fimerman who underftands his bufmefs, than you 

 would from a book in a twelvemonth. 



Clencus. And yet what a bleffing it is to have 

 free accefs to books to read the thoughts of 

 others wifer than ourfelves ! 



Old Soldier. You may well fay that, fir. I 

 know what a poor ignorant man I am ; yet what 

 mould I be, unlefs I was able to read ? 



Clericus. Betides, you make yourfelf very ufe- 

 ful in your fituation as parifh clerk. 



Old Soldier. I try to do my beft, fir. For the 

 like of me to be obliged to attend church every 

 Sunday, I confider a great thing. Tired fome- 

 times with a whole week's walking, I mould be 

 inclined, I fear, to mifs it fometimes. And yet I 



