Angling sketches . ompts a manjust to try a hopeless cast, in a low water, withouttesting his tackle ? As sure as you do that, upcomes the fish, and with his first dash breaks yourcasting line, and leaves you lamenting. Thisdoctrine I preach, being my own awful example. Bad and careless little boy, my worthy masterused to say at school ; and he would have pro-voked a smile in other circumstances. But , of the Edinburgh Academy, had some-thing about him (he usually carried it in the tail-pocket of his coat) which inspired respect anddiscouraged ribaldry. Would that I had listenedto Mr
Angling sketches . ompts a manjust to try a hopeless cast, in a low water, withouttesting his tackle ? As sure as you do that, upcomes the fish, and with his first dash breaks yourcasting line, and leaves you lamenting. Thisdoctrine I preach, being my own awful example. Bad and careless little boy, my worthy masterused to say at school ; and he would have pro-voked a smile in other circumstances. But , of the Edinburgh Academy, had some-thing about him (he usually carried it in the tail-pocket of his coat) which inspired respect anddiscouraged ribaldry. Would that I had listenedto Mr. Trotter ; would that I had corrected, inearly life, the happy-go-lucky disposition to scattermy Greek accents, as it were, with a pepper-caster,to fish with worn tackle, and, generally, to makefree with the responsibilities of life and is too late to amend, but others may learnwisdom from this spectacle of deserved misfortuneand absolute discomfiture. I am not m)-self a salmon-fisher, though willing. n«^%A, HIHW IMW ^^iJi TWEEDSIDE A TWEEDSWE SKETCH 123 to try that art again, and though this is a tale ofsahnon. To m\self the difference between anghngfor trout and angling for salmon is like the dif-ference between a drawing of Lionardos, in silverpoint, and a loaded landscape by MacGilp, is all an idyll, all delicacy—that is,trout-fishing on the Test or on the Itchen. Youwander by clear water, beneath gracious poplar-trees, unencumbered ^\ith anything but a slim rodof Messrs. Hard)-s make, and a light toy-box ofdelicate flies. You need seldom wade, and thewater is shallow, the bottom is of silver need not search all day at random, but youselect a rising trout, and endeavour to lay thefloating fly delicately over him. If you part withhim, there is alwaj-s another feeding merrily : Invenies alium si te hie fastidit. It is like an excursion into Corots country, itis rich in memories of Walton and Cotton : it is adream of peace, and th
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Keywords: ., bookauthorla, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectfishing
