The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-07-21
MIR, JOHN ROACH.

.sYou see, | was a fisherman. |
think that is enough to account for
the whole story" My neighbor look
ed up from his float as he stood angling
for perch upon a little rustic bridge
which used TO be nearly opposite the
Rye House. ut Ioddesdon, III Hert-
fordsbire. | had been botanizing all
the afternoon among the waterside
ffora-which is very beautiful in Eng
land-and had unslung my basket to
have 4 gossip with Mr.. John Roach
We live near each other, and feel the
natural esteem which comes Of reel.
procal good Offices His place is call
ed ''Nestfelds, and mine THE
Priory." | don't know why. They
are both substantial country houses,
built of red brick, without any pre-
tension, and surrounded by twenty
acres OF SO Of gardens and meadow
land. They were probably erected in
the reign of Elizabeth, when our is
land peculiaritieS were sOmwhat more
marked than they are now, for they
are both alike in this popularity, tina
small portions Of light and air are
walled in for EN'iVate use and plentiful
- IldiIItu Will SOOll IIIII9S MY
friends habitation was the dover
house of old Sir Reginald Roach s
widow, who seems to have set up some
queer religion for herself and followers
IA sect once numerous i'll the villages
round about her j; my place seems to
have been rebuilt out Of the ruins of
an ancient monastery which was, per-
haps, pulled down by Henry the
Eighth S Commissioners after the bluff
King had quarreled with his Romish
clergy.
John Roach and are alike in many
respects. We have both good gardens
excellent Wine-cellerS, larderS well
stocked ut all times, curious libraries
with all the shelves full OF cOmpanion-
able books. We are both bachelors
under the guardianship of sunny tenn
pered hOusekeeperS, SO that we ripen
and grow mellOWer daily, as do peaches
upon a southern wall in Autumn-time,
We have both warm incomes too.
enough for all the wants of the fancy
and the wants of the heart, nothing
over. We could neither of us take to
building or piCtre-buying on a large
scale; but we can purchase all the re-
spect we require for common use, we
never haggle over figures, and let our
tradesmen, WOTk-peOple and servants
make such gains as please them with
out demanding strict accounts from
any one. At Christmas and at Easter
we have always something to give
away, and we keep the birthdays of
old folk and children that we may en-
Joy the perpetual sight of happy faces :;
SO that whenever Il big fish or blade
Of strange grass is heard of within
miles of our abode, John Roach and
are sure to have the first news piping
hot, because our bread and cheese and
ale are good, and he loves angling. and
It's we'll known that | am searching
for the fOur-leaved shamrock. which
IS said sometimes to reward Il patient
and intelligent-lookinG into the secrets
of Nature.
Eyes, was Il fisherman. and Philip
was not. or lie might have better
understood the origin of happiness, :"
continued my neighbor, with quaint.
demure smile playing over his features
III the soft hazy light of an English
Spring in early evening.
nodded as | arranged an unusually
Tine specimen of 4 parasite which grows
upon the water-hly, and which | then
tancied | had myself discovered,
though now find it was known to my
Scotch gardener. and is not uncommon
IN Perthshire, his native county. As
| nodded, also remarked with sound
discretion that fishing and botany
might account for many things.
All - returned Mr.. John Reach,
with more readiness. if with less pro-
fundity, than had characterized nv
observation Fishing has an advantage
over botany, because it is less absorb
ing. When you so a-hrmting for flora
YOU are rs a student who diligently
pores over book, \ large and open
book indeed. but one Of which the
characters are often hard to decipher,
and your attention can never wander
from the subject. 4 fisherman has on
~ to keep an eve upon his float. and
may leave his thoughts at liberty to
roam over all creation. Fishing is
rather al aid to contemplation than a
hindrance to it.
| had nothing to say in answer to
this statement, and ii | had been able
10 controyert 1t | should not have done
so. for we must have lived and thought
to small advantage If we do not evade
discussion whenever it is possible to
90 50 honestly. | like botanizing bet
ter than angling; that is no reason
why my friend should be enamored by
my pastime, and it is a delicate sort of
charity which consists in yielding up
me small triumphs of conversation to
al Who talk with lis. We are not
o9uhd TO converse with anybody. but
NIieh we consent to hold intercourse
even with 4 curmudgeon we are bound
III conscience and in kindness to use
none but sweet words Whenever fhe
thing can be fairly managed.
Besides, Mr.. John Roach looked in
such good case that evening. his broad =,