ANGLING. 205 



out at noonday, under the shade of trees, or in the 

 evening by the glassy stream, on whose mirrored sur- 

 face he may view the surrounding hills and woods, while 

 watching for the dimpling movements of the water 

 that indicate the nibbling of the fish. There can be no 

 more delightful recreation in serene summer weather, 

 when the heat of the atmosphere will not permit one 

 to engage in more active toil or amusement. And 

 there is no end to the pleasing fancies in which one 

 may indulge the mind, while listening to the varied 

 notes of the birds, that always frequent the borders of 

 streams and lakes, or watching the motions of some 

 little animal, that will occasionally peep out upon one,, 

 while occupied in his quiet amusement. 



When we are seeking after pleasure, it is not always 

 the prominent object of pursuit that is the source of 

 the principal enjoyments we experience. Our object 

 may be an errand of business in itself disagi-eeable, 

 and our pleasures may spring from our adventures and 

 observations, during the time occupied in the perform- 

 ance of the errand. A walk is seldom interesting, how- 

 ever pleasant the scenery and other objects on the road, 

 if we are sauntering, without any particular aim. But 

 if we have gone out to accomplish a certain purpose, 

 which is of sufficient importance to keep up our resolu- 

 tion to proceed, every scene on the road may be produc- 

 tive of a high degree of pleasure. Thus it seems to me 

 that in angling, the pleasure of the pursuit is, in almost 

 all cases, derived from collateral circumstances, though, 

 the latter would be nothing without the purpose before 

 us of taking our finny game. 



The pleasure of angling consists in having something 

 agreeable to occupy the mind, while indulging in the 

 voluptuous sensations that attend us, when surrounded 



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