206 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOEEST. 



by the agreeable circumstances of green fields, fragrant 

 woods, and pleasant prospects. To sit beside a stream 

 for half a day, under the spreading branches of an oak, 

 would be but a dull amusement for the most enthusias- 

 tic lover of nature, if he had no purpose in view, except 

 to enjoy the mere sensations derived from surrounding 

 objects. But let him throw a hook and bait into the 

 stream, with the intention of taking a few fishes to 

 grace his table ; and however insignificant their value, 

 it is sufficient to furnish a motive for watching a float 

 for many hours. The expectations which are thus 

 aroused, and the agreeable exercise of the attention and 

 the ingenuity, with the additional pleasure derived 

 from the varied scenery, the fresh odors of vegetation, 

 and the many agreeable sounds from animated nature, 

 unite in rendering it one of the most interesting of em- 

 ploynients. 



Though I have never been a skilful or inveterate 

 angler, yet the review of my angling excursions always 

 brings before me, some of my most pleasing recollec- 

 tions. The stillness of the occupation prepares the mind 

 to receive impressions from suiTounding objects, with 

 singular vividness. The sight of the little fishes, as they 

 are dartiiag about among the long stems of the water- 

 lilies, is then as pleasant to us as to a child. We 

 watch every minute object with close attention, though 

 it be but the little water-beetles as they whirl about in 

 still water near the shore, or the minute blossoms of the 

 potamogeton, that lift up their heads above the glassy 

 wave. The lighting of a butterfly on the blue spikes 

 of the pickerel-weed, or the humming of a dragonfly, 

 as he pursues his microscopic prey among the tall 

 sedges and pond-weeds, never fail to attract our notice, 

 while engaged in our day-dreaming occupation. 



