252 Fisurxe in AaericAn WATERS. 
Our dreams of home were rosy. Though unlooked-for, 
modest flushes of the great St. John, produced by summer 
showers at its tributaries, caused temporary hope, yet the 
stream kept gradually narrowing and falling so fast that sal- 
mon refused to ascend to the fluvial part of the river. About 
the 20th of July the grilse began to make their appearance, 
and the parr rose to the fly in the most plucky manner, 
evincing more courage than their grandparents. 
“At length the morning for our departure has arrived,” 
said one of our party while returning from enjoying his last 
bath of the season in Rattling Run. Instead of learning from 
the 
‘* Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 
Sermons in stones,” 
we were about to exchange the scenes of nature, unadorned 
by art, for the crowded mart, and the hurry-scurry of agere- 
gated humanity. The thoughts which made bearable the re- 
flections called forth by preparing to leave our home of free- 
dom, and felicity of angling for salmon, were the dearest of 
earth — home, family, and friends. For these we could en- 
dure the sights of striking tents, and loading the bark ¢a- 
noes for our departure to the mouth of the river. 
Our tents were struck, tents, trunks, and rubber bags 
packed before breakfast. None but the experienced can re- 
alize how lonely appears the little spot of ground over whieh 
his tent has been stretched for several wecks, but of which 
nothing remains except the boughs of the fir-tree which rest- 
ed him, and gave him pleasant dreams for many nights. We 
still heard the salmon leaping and splashing in the river, and 
the two lone birds piping their merry notes, though our tents 
were removed and packed in the canoes. But, shaking off 
the sense of melancholy which I felt to be gaining on me, I 
remembered that the lines of true anglers always fall in 
pleasant places, and so adjourned to breakfast. 
As the general had decided to remain and see the salmon 
season out, twere wrong to deny the fact that leaving him 
