. Wit bought, or, A New York boy's adventures when the empire state was young . ls gently fanned the water. I saw Bill atthe instant he marked the fish. In a momenthe lifted up and waved his hand as a sign tome. He then stepped softly backwards, andat a little distance knelt down, to hide him-self from the view of the trout. All thistime Bill was fumbling with a nervousquickness for his hook and line. First heran his hands into the pockets of his trousers,seeming to turn over a great variety of ar-ticles there; then he felt in his coat pockets;and then he uttered two or three awkwardwords, whi
. Wit bought, or, A New York boy's adventures when the empire state was young . ls gently fanned the water. I saw Bill atthe instant he marked the fish. In a momenthe lifted up and waved his hand as a sign tome. He then stepped softly backwards, andat a little distance knelt down, to hide him-self from the view of the trout. All thistime Bill was fumbling with a nervousquickness for his hook and line. First heran his hands into the pockets of his trousers,seeming to turn over a great variety of ar-ticles there; then he felt in his coat pockets;and then he uttered two or three awkwardwords, which signified much anger. Nothing could exceed the point of vexation THE FISHHOOK. 39 to which Bill was worked up, when, turningthe last pocket inside out, and shaking it asif it had been a viper, he found that he hadnot a hook or line about him. Gatheringup the articles and thrusting them back intotheir places, he looked about, and picking up astone, approached the place \vhere the troutwas lying, and hurled it at him with spitefulvengeance, exclaiming— If I am ever caught. without a fishhook again, I hope I may beshot! Stop, stop, Bill I said I; « do not berash. I say I hope I may be shot if I am evercaught again without a fishhook !—so there \said he, hurling another stone into thebrook. Remember what you say now, Bill!said I. 40 WIT BOUGHT. I will remember it, said my compa-nion ; and though nothing more was said ofit at the time, I may as well observe nowthat he kept his word; for ever after I re-marked that he carried a fishhook in his hat-band, and, as he said, in fulfilment of hisvow. Such was the eccentric humour of myfriend, and such the real depth of his cha-racter and feelings, that a speech, uttered inmomentary passion and seeming thought-lessness, clung to his mind, and never partedfrom him till death. Could that poor boyhave had the advantages of wise cultivation,what a noble heart had now beat in hisbreast! But, alas! he was bound to abriefer and more inglor
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