beech-tree as if it were a child, atid the walnut-trees with their corru- 
gated barks, and the silver bark of the birch I talk to the birds that 
eye me slyly, calling them by name. I scramble up banks, and fall down 
hills—that is rare exercise. If I tear my trousers it gives me a positive 
feeling of self-respect, for so the acrobats do, and boys and fishermen; 
and to be of this company is honor enough to be sung by troubadours - 
but where are the fishing pole and the line with its pith and point? I 
laid them down, bless me I know not where Forgetfulness is a sign of 
genius. Is it not glory enough to be born under the zodiacal sign of the 
fishes? But where is that pole? To go home fishless and poleless is 
like going to one’s grave unwept. I will hunt that pole, but will now 
pause to eat a sandwich. A good man who fishes should always take a 
snack. It is sociable. You eat it yourself, and that has a radiant look 
of hospitality. If you go fishing alone (which is the real etiquette of 
fishing ), it may seem selfish. But when you sit eating your lunch, that 
is sociable. Your self-respect and spirit of genuine generosity are now 
restored. There is a feeling of hospitableness when a lone fisherman 
fishes out of his pocket a lunch which he has filched (not to say fished) 
from his wife's cupboard. Besides, you feel self-sacrificing, for you are 
eating for two to keep up the idea of friendliness And a lunch tastes 
good under such circumstances. | make my appeal to all candid men, 
if | am not speaking the truth when | say so. One combines business 
and pleasure and philosophy in a solitary lunch; and the better the lunch 
is the more business, philosophy, and pleasure there are. But where is 
the pole? That is a thing to consider; but deep thought is not con- 
ducive to good digestion, hence banish thought of the pole. Away, 
base care! Onwith the lunch! Let hospitality 
be encouraged! There is yeta sliver of bread 
MeN or a piece of chicken to be dealt with, 
a\ On with the lunch! And a chipmunk 
standing inquiringly, and 1 may say 
impertinently on end (and I may say 
on the right end), looks inquiringly 
at my book and at my lunch and at 
me. | really have never settled the 
literary preterences of the chipmunk, 
though | think I could if I tried. A 
kingiisher dashes down to the 1iver 
from a stump where he has been 
