The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-07
HIS CHEERFUL ADAPTABILITY.
Frank Confessions Of an Angler TO Whom
All Fish Are Game.

FRANK CONFESSIONS OF an 'AnBIer 10 WHOM
All Fish Are Game.
CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS, Pa, June a.-"I
am frank to admit, and rather glory in it,
said the Rural Philosopher. that | am
what somebody who seemed to know has
happily called an angler of cheerful adapt
ability
Thus. il go out after pike or jack sal
mon, or black bass, or trout, and come in
successful contact with neither pike, nor
| jack salmon nor bass, nor trout disappoint-
ment does not sit on my soul nor discomfort
sour my temper Sniilingly and unruf-
fed turn. then. perhaps, to the Turing
of the striking fish Of the broad brow
and generous mouth, the bullhead.
III this bewhiskered and behorned deni-
zen of muddy bottoms stands aloof and
refuses to be tempted by my bait, with
lingering cheerfulness l can adapt my tackle
to the build nd habit of the slver-scaed
but prickly shouted chub and straightway
go seek him
| "If fate. or the weather. or dearth Of
clubs foils my intent to persuade any
member of this particular piscatorial family
that it is much better TO lie snug and cosey
! in & nice warm rreel than il is TO be roofing
around, cold and wet, among cheerless
stones at the bottom OF swirling eddy,
waste no time lamentng, but mayhap
seek the rocky borders of the stream where
the pngnacious suItish frisks and darts
his pumpkin seed form in and out Of shaded
hiding places, and try my wiles and worms
on him.
Should even the notified sunfish prove
unkind. am brother in cheerful adapta-
bility still. and will wait content until the
sun drops behind the hills and night sue
ceeds him. Then you may see me hieing to
, the bosom of some placid pond or quiet eddy
| where the stars are nirrored, and the hush
of summer evening hovers. and the whip
poorwill crones its love song along the
sedgy borders. and the wind comes down
from the hills and plays gently here and
there on the waters star-gemmed surface;
what time I sit in my borrowed boat and
bob and bob and bob for cells.
Should the night turn out to be one OF
those occasional nights that are not good
for cells, even then cheerfulness not only
does not desert me, but rather prompts
art and proves my adaptablity.
Thus prompted. it is safe to say that l
will quietly seek the home OF the rustic
urchin who has been fishing all day.
having, perhaps. kept meanwhile. kindly
and approving eve on him-and without
complaint or protest in my heart or mind,
! buy his fish, fetch them In, and relate how
deity and with what Joy and ease yanked
them from their haunts. deep in the pools
and among the dancing ripples-nst the
same as any common, everyday fisher
| man.
"And that reminds me,
1Once on an opening day Of the trout
season I sought the waters of a favorite
stream to tempt the firstlings Of the brook.
Others were on the stream with the same
| Glad Durp0sA
During the early part OF the day had
sport edifying to me and complimentary
to my skin. I had such success that, not
calculating then upon the sometime tickle
ness OF trout, and believing the same de-
lightful success would be mine all day,
repulsed with scorn an uncouth but expert
rustic who approached me with a nice
creel OF big ones and cast out unmistakable
hints Of desire on his part to barter them
Soon afterward the trout ceased all
contemplation Of my flies, nor would they
even consider the possibilities of the red
and wriggling worm. to. which l had
cheerfuly adapted myself; This turn in
nv luck continued until II was getting
toward time to quit the stream and go
home.
Il had some meritorious trout In my
creel, but not enough to give me such stand
ing for the day az thought my reputation
the cast-off rustic and his fair loot of tn 9
brook, and forthwith set about finding
him.
Il found him. and to my joy learned
that he had the trout still In his possession
The spirit Of barter was still alive within
him, but he had taken his fish home. II
wanted them, though. he said. he would
20 at once and fetch them to me. i tolo
him to go, and lay In wait for his return a,
a secluded spot.
.The rustic appeared in good time. He
| haI tho trDiIt " RI nped in a snowy nankin
l handed him my creel and stood apart &c
guard against unwelcome surprise by any
other fisherman who might come that way
while the rlde barterer Of his catch trans.
ferred it from the napkin to my crel
.He made the transfer. received his
price. and went his way while !, with con.
science serene and inward congratulatior
on my cheerful adaptability as an angler
returned to the creek and fshed and flshed
again among my fellows. landed no more
me not at all
.When. after a while, the party was al
aboard the train homeward bound, and
each fisherman. as was the custom with US
panions his catch for the day, and to boa 8,
Of it, or to excuse it, as the circumstances
might require, | felt that | could display
mine with full and proud heart, for saw
none that adorned basket better tina
the trout that lay in mine. ! opened my
creel.
An envious angler fastened to inspect
what II contained.
AREN'T they beautiesy said I. handing
the creel over TO him, without even glancing
at II myself Aren't they beauties?
YES, they surely are said the envioul
angler holding up a big trout from my
basket. I've fshed this brook for many
years said he. and never saw finer ones
But III be everlastingly whangdoodled,
said he, II I ever saw any caught before
that were already fixed for cooking"
Il looked. The uncouth rustic's addition
to my catch lay on top in the creel. And
he had dressed 'em all ready for the pan!
Il am an angler OF cheerful adaptability
still. am frank TO admit 1t, and rather
glory In it, am also frank to admit that
the thoughtlessness Of that unoouth rustic
that opening day disturbed my cheerfulness
just bit q.