2 GOLDEN DAYS 



we reach our final goal, for always before 

 us lie further fields yet to explore. Skill 

 and experience may take us far, but 

 beyond are Jenny Spinners and all the 

 flies we have as yet not learned to tie I 

 If we have acquired some wisdom in those 

 diverse doings of the river's underworld, 

 we then begin to understand how much 

 is still to learn. We may have studied 

 the ways of bulgers with the nymphs, or 

 even found a fit device to tackle tailers. 

 We may have stalked successfully a few 

 gut-shy trout, yet still we know there are 

 as good fish in the water-meadow as ever 

 came out of it — and better. 



Above all, there is the indefinable thrill 

 of things concerning open skies, unfettered 

 solitudes, misty dawns, and dewy twilights, 

 the sights and sounds and fragrance along 

 the river-bank, the first mayfly of the 

 season, the scent of leather that pervades 

 an old and well-worn fly- book, within, the 

 same familiar faces, wreathed with gut- 

 strands dry and brittle, outrageously be- 

 hackled, decked out with faded jay and 

 jungle -cock. For the most part they are 

 idle drones who never took a single fish ; 



