The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-11-08
TTll8E / cAIitIET WE TROUT.

II
About an hour after noon began to
feel hungry, and thought it time to look
up the old man. who had the lunch
basket. walked down the bank of the
brook and sometime before / reached
the woods, came to a place where it
expanded to width of about ten feet.
The water here was very clear, and the
motion quiet, SO chat / could easily see
to the bottom, which did not appear to
be more than foot below the surface.
Gazing into this transparent water as /
walked, saw d large trout glide across
the stream and disappear under the
grassy bank which oyerhung the oppo-
site side. / instantly stopped. This
was a much larger fish than / had
caughts and determined to try for
him
stepped back from the bank. SO as
to be out of sight, and put a fine grass
hopper on my hook; then lay, face
downward, on the grass and worked
myself slowly Forward until could see
the middle of Che stream, then quietly
raising my pole / gave my grasshopper
good swing, as if he had made
Rager to jump over the stream at its
widest part. But as he certainly would
have failed in such an ambitious en-
deavor, especially i he had been caught
by puff OF wind, let him come down
upon the surface OF. the water little
beyond the middle of the brook. Grass
hoppers do not sink when they fall into
the water, and so kept this fellow
upon the surface and gently moved
him along, as if. with all the conceit
taken out Of him by the result of his ill
considered Nap hewas ignominiously
endeavering Ito swim to shore. As /
did this, / say the trout come out from
under the haDk, move slowly toward
the grasshopper and stop directly under
him. Trembling with anxiety and
eager expectation, I endeavored to
make the movements of the insect still
more natural, and, as far as | was able,
/ threw him into a sudden perception of
his danger, and frenzied desire to get
away. But, either the trout had had all
the grasshoppers he wanted, or he was
able, from long experience, to perceive
the difference between natural exhibit
tion of emotion and bistrionic imita-
ton Of it, for he slowly turned, and,
with afew slight movements of his tail,
glided back under the bank. In vain
did the grasshopper continue his frantic
efforts to reach the shore; in vain did he
occasionally become exhausted, and
sink i short distance below the surface;
il vain did he do everything that he
KNEW to show that he appreciated what
5aicy and delicious morsel he was,
and how be feared that the trout might
yet be tempted to seize him; the fish did
not come out again.
Then Ilwithdrew my line, and moved
back from the stream. l now deter
rained.to try Mr.. Trout with a fly, and
I took out the paper old Peter Cruise
had given me. didn't know exactly
what kind of winged insects were in
order at this time of year, but I was
sure that yellow butterflies were not
particular about just what month it was,
so long rs the sun shOne warmly. /
therefore chose that one of Peters flies
which was made of the yellowest feath-
ers, and removing the snood and hook
from my line, / hastily attached this
fly, which was provided with hook
quite suitable for my desired prize.
CFouching on the grass, | again APP
preached the brook. Gaily fitting
above the CLASSY surface of the water, in
all tho fancied security of tender youth
and ihhocence came my yellow fly.
Backward and forward over the water
he graeefully flew, sometimes rising
little 3pto the air, as if to view the
varied Scenery of thewoods and noun
tains, aid then settling for moment
close Is the surface, to better inspect
his Offering image as it came up from
below and showing in his every move
ment his intense enjoyment of summer
time and life.
Out from his dark retreat now came
the front, and and settling quietly at
the bottom of the brook. he appeared to
regardthe venturesome insect with
certain interest. But he must have de-
tectedsthe iron barb of vice beneath the
maskof blitheful innocence, for, after
short deliberation, the trout turned and
disappeared under the bank. As he
slowly moved away, he seemed to be
bigger than ever, must catch that
fish, Surely he would bite at something.
Il was quite evident that his mind was
not wholly unsusceptible to emotions
emanating from an awakening APPETITE,
and j believed that if he saw exactly
what be wanted, he would not neglect
an OPPORTUNITY of availing himself of it.
But Ehat did he wantP must certain
III End out. Drawing myself back
again. / took of the yellow fly and put
On another. This was white one with.
black blotches, like big miller moth
which had fallen into an ink-pot. 1t
was certainly conspicuous creature,
end as ] crept forward and sent it