304 I GO A-FISHING. 



must be without comforts, unless she is thoroughly strong, 

 and able to endure as much as yourself. But don't growl 

 about luggage. It is one of the most stupid fashions of 

 the times. Carry your household goods and gods with 

 you if you want them, and pay for them like a man. 



We did not know that we should have any rough times, 

 and, as it proved, we did not have any ; but we enjoyed 

 ourselves none the less for the provisions ordered in New 

 York, and, thanks to the express system, we found them 

 at Littleton awaiting us when we met there. I had gone 

 to Littleton on Tuesday, having an engagement to fish a 

 certain pond fifteen miles from that place, which I fulfilled, 

 taking no fish, on Wednesday. On Thursday morning the 

 Mountain Ranger was at the door, the baggage and stores 

 were loaded, and at ten o'clock we were off for the un- 

 known regions of the North. From Littleton to Lancas- 

 ter was a short day's ride. We discovered nothing re- 

 markable along the road except a hotel, beautifully situ- 

 ated on the bank of the Connecticut at Dalton. It looked 

 like a pleasant and quiet place to do summer loitering. 

 They said pickerel fishing was good thereabouts, but trout 

 were not common. There was a large hotel in Lancas- 

 ter, which is a pleasant village. We strolled up the bank 

 of Israel's River in the evening, and made a few casts 

 above and below the paper-mill dam. Chubs rose to the 

 fly, but no trout. Evening came down very placidly in 

 this delicious valley. The Baron was out sketching till 

 dark, and found other artists in fields and forests around. 

 They frequent the place, and there is no better evidence 

 of its beauty of situation. Since the days of which I 

 write the rail has been extended from Littleton, through 

 Lancaster, to Northumberland. In the morning we drove 

 on to Northumberland station, on the Crand Trunk Rail- 



