advanced regarding bait was not only intended in 

 that light but also to serve as a lesson in patience and 

 to realize the monotony of the study, it was happily 

 and fully appreciated. It was important too that my 

 son should become enlightened as to the truthfulness 

 or falsity of fish stories, and to this end I explained 

 that they were generally told in a spirit of fun, to be 

 accepted with many grains of allowance. That there 

 were fish stories that were true and fish stories that 

 were never intended to be accepted as truth. That 

 they were more generally repeated to kill time, to 

 add merriment and interest to the sport; a harmless 

 diversion, throwing aside of seriousness, proper trim- 

 mings for the recreation they always accompany. 

 What better antidote for "the blues" and melancholy, 

 and what more glorious food for tired and worn out 

 man can there be than a wholesome, clean, interesting, 

 fish story properly delivered ! They should come from 

 gentlemen, be untarnished wtth vulgarity, free fromj^y 

 profanity and unaccompanied by rudeness. 



On this subject good Father Isaac Walton said: 

 "He is not to me a good companion, for most of 

 his conceits were scripture jests or lascivious jests; 

 for which I count no man witty, for the devil will help 

 a man that way inclined to the first ; and his own cor- 

 rupt nature, which he always carries with him, to the 

 latter; but a companion that feasts the company with 

 wit and mirth and leaves out the sin that is usually 

 mixed with it, is the man, * * * * but for such com- 

 pany as we heard last night, it infests others ; the very 

 boys will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine 

 host and another of the company that shall be nameless. 

 I am sorry the other is a gentleman, for less religion 

 will not save their souls than a beggar's. I think 



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