64 I GO A- FISHING. 



Man, there will come an hour when, as a just punish- 

 ment for that hackneyism of soul that you permit and are 

 proud of, God will shut out the glories of his world from 

 your vision, and, in the gathering gloom that shall then 

 thicken around you, you will cry out for light ; but the 

 broad glare of the noonday sun shall not then prevail to 

 pierce the shadows. 



I was speaking of the goslings. They shook their tiny 

 wings in the first sunlight, and poked their bills less fre- 

 quently under them, and moved about with more freedom 

 as I was approaching the pond, when suddenly I saw 

 them rush in confusion hither and thither, and so great 

 was their consternation that I did not miss one of them 

 that had disappeared under the water. But a moment 

 later, a mink stole out of the water at the upper end of 

 the pond, and before I could throw a stone at him, almost 

 before I could shout, he disappeared in the wood with a 

 youngster in his felonious jaws. 



"Never mind," said Philip, approaching while I was 

 staring after the wretch — " never mind ; the gosling would 

 only have lived to be a goose." 



" It isn't the loss of a gosling, but the audacity of the 

 thief. I can't bear such impertinence." 



" What are you going to do about it ?" 



" Take a ride and think of it." 



" Agreed. But not till we have had breakfast." 



The black ponies were before the light spring wagon, 

 and Philip, with Dr. Johnston, drove, while John and my- 

 self went in the saddle. Under the seat of the wagon 

 were carefully stowed the rods and a fowling-piece ; for 

 it is a safe rule that a sportsman pursues — never to be 

 without his tools when there is even a bare possibility that 

 he mav want them. 



