58 AN ANGLER'S HOURS m 



people who stand by a river and catch 

 rheumatism. But, tired though he is, our 

 angler perseveres, and between the bridges 

 he manages to catch another half-dozen 

 worth keeping ; and thus, when he stands 

 on the first bridge again, he has twenty 

 trout to his credit, besides a good many small 

 ones which he returned. 



By this time it is nearly a quarter past 

 seven, and now arises the question whether 

 he shall go on fishing, for he has nearly 

 another hour of daylight, or whether he 

 shall stroll quietly home along the road. 

 By fishing on he might make his basket up 

 to two dozen, but then, again, he might not. 

 No, on the whole he thinks he will not fish 

 any more. For the sake of a fish or two it 

 is not worth while tiring himself out and 

 losing flies, and possibly temper. He has 

 every reason to be satisfied with his catch, 

 and besides his dinner will be ready for him 

 at a quarter to eight, and he has forgotten 

 the sandwiches as if they had never been. 

 So he leaves the river and follows the road. 

 Another day, when he finds himself with 

 but five fish to show at the same hour, he 

 will doubtless go on desperately so long as 



