438 



AMERICAN ANGLER'S B 6 K . 



There is one tiling more I want to tell you before I close 

 this chapter, which almost unconsciously to me has assumed 

 the style of an epistle (I hope I am not too familiar on so 

 short an -acquaintance); it is this: do not throw away all your 

 first attempts that appear big-headed or wild in their habili- 

 ments, for a much rougher-looking fly than you suppose will 

 kill ; but if you are ashamed to let them be seen by the "old 

 ones," lay them in the back folds of your fly-book to give 

 away to the boys on your fishing excursions, for you will be 

 very apt to meet some dumpy, pigeon-toed little fellow on the 

 stream or in the road, who will salute you with, 



"PLEASE SIR, GIVE ME A FLY-HOOK!' 



