Exrr MIXISCENCES. 89 



Mr. Hopper's pudding-making- ability was then requisitioned, 



nnd a real beauty was dropped in the swim in readiness for a 



ly next morning, and then tracks were made for home, 



and Mr. Hopper did his hauling in double quick time as far as 



Hows by the river side permitted, and he then gathered 



in his hauling line and took his seat in the boat, and he and 



.loiter pulled home against stream, doing the remainder 



of the distance in a little over 40 minutes. 



^ 1 r. Hopper and Witchdorter now know all the sharp runs and 

 currents in that part of the river and so avoid them, taking to the 

 slack water as there the current is not very strong. Arrived at the 

 ferry, everything was made neat and trim in the boat in readiness 

 for an early start next morning, and then after an hour at cribbage 

 and a pull at the briar root, the four-poster were again sought 

 with a view to rising' up early in the morning. Early rising 

 was evidently a habit of the ancients. Holy writ tells us that 

 Abraham. Abimeleck, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, 

 Job, Elkanah and Hannah, one and all, rose up early in the 

 '.0-, and Darius rose very early in the morning, but these 

 good people did not take their annual holiday at Trent-side and 

 go barbel fishing. 



Mr. Hopper is quite sure that early rising is beneficial in 

 many ways, and tends to cheerfulness and contentment. It 

 should always be remembered that "Cheerfulness smooths 

 the road of life," and the lines of the old couplet show the 

 reverse side of the picture 



A cheerful spirit moveth quick, 

 A grumbler in the mud will stick. 



And yet another 



IV always as cheerful as ever you can, 

 For few will delight in a sorrowful man. 



It is well said that " man is a bundle of habits," and so he is. 

 Mr. Hopper and Witchdorter represent two good-sized 

 bundles, and they go in for early rising when at Trent-side. 

 Whether Witchdorter would take the first prize in that line 

 without assistance may be doubtful, and the readers of the 

 early portion of this chapter will probably come to the 

 conelusion that, but for Mr. Hopper, the four-poster occupied 



