The angler . The lad that was receiving his instructionsI learnt was the son and heir apparent of afat old widow, who kept the village inn, andof course a youth of some expectation, andmuch courted by the idle, gentleman-likepersonages of the place. In taking him underhis care, therefore, the old man had probablyan eye to a privileged corner in the tap-room,and an occasional cup of cheerful ale free ofexpense. There is certainly something in angling, ifwe could forget, which anglers are apt to do,the cruelties and tortures inflicted on wormsand insects, that tends to produce a gentle-ness of s
The angler . The lad that was receiving his instructionsI learnt was the son and heir apparent of afat old widow, who kept the village inn, andof course a youth of some expectation, andmuch courted by the idle, gentleman-likepersonages of the place. In taking him underhis care, therefore, the old man had probablyan eye to a privileged corner in the tap-room,and an occasional cup of cheerful ale free ofexpense. There is certainly something in angling, ifwe could forget, which anglers are apt to do,the cruelties and tortures inflicted on wormsand insects, that tends to produce a gentle-ness of spirit, and a pure serenity of mind. As the English are methodical even in theirrecreations, and are the most scientific ofsportsmen, it has been reduced among themto perfect rule and system. Indeed, it is anamusement peculiarly adapted to the mildand cultivated scenery of England, whereevery roughness has been softened away fromthe landscape. It is delightful to saunteralong those limpid streams which wander,. like veins of silver, through the bosom of thisbeautiful country; leading one through adiversity of small home scenery; sometimeswinding through ornamented grounds ; some-times brimming along through rich pasturage,where the fresh green is mingled with sweet-smelling flowers ; sometimes venturing in sightof villages and hamlets; and then runningcapriciously away into shady The sweetness and serenity of nature, andthe quiet watchfulness of the sport, graduallybring on pleasant fits of musing; which arenow and then agreeably interrupted by thesong of a bird; the distant whistle of thepeasant; or perhaps the vagary of some fish,leaping out of the still water, and skimmingtransiently about its glassy surface. WhenI would beget content, says Izaak Walton, and increase confidence in the power andwisdom and providence of Almighty God, Iwill walk the meadows by some gliding stream,and there contemplate the lilies that take nocare, and those very many other little l
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectfishing, bookyear1892
