Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-04-04
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE

THE beauty of Scriptural quotations.
from tlani,. cnntaxt is the

1~HE beauty of Scriptural quotations, TAX
en- apart from their context is the eX-
IA IRENE feXibility of them. They are ap-
plicable to all contingencies, even contradict
tory ones. [ learned this from a fisherman
fishing being a properly Biblical occupation.
He was standing among the others of his
craft on little curving bar, like new moon,
raised by the silt from the river meeting the
incoming sands of the sea. The waters wage
a continual warfare over this reef. The river
finds it easier to inundate the marshy plain
into lake than to force it's way against the
tide, but the ocean will have none OF its in
difference; it crosses the barrier, tears out
the dixie, and drinks the sluggish stream I'M
til the ebb weakens its power for another
day Their tactics change so necessarily that
you never find the place twice exactly the
same.
Still, there is always the remnant of the
wall when the tide is low. And it is lined
with all sorts and conditions of fishers seek
ling the steelhead salmon which breasts the
turbulent rapids in the latest breach made by
the sea to spawn in the stream. There were
la soldier on furlough, an old man in boots
so heavy he could barely walk, an assort-
Fment of young men, two boys with their Sis
ter, glorious youngster of twelve, all three
of them wading about in the icy water as
nonchalantly as brown-legged sandpipers;
their small brother, chubby wistful baby,
with the Wise-old look of a gnOme, on guard
over their sweaters, and two well-kept, ell
derby men in golf stockings, VINO nSned neaLly
from the beach,
One of these particularly took my fancy.
He was so generous with his bait-little pick
led salmon eggs that looked like scarlet cur
rants-so sportsmanike in his uncOncern
over the noise and splashing of the small be-
ginners He had beautiful tackle, and made
the expert casts of an old f1y-fsherman. L
asked a look at his game.
''No luck" he said with smile, begin
ming to reel in for another cast. No apollo
gies about the reason-those restless brown
legs splashing hither and yon 'They're
beautiful fish, gray above silver below, pep
pered with little black spots above reddish
median line running from gills to tail. And
a touch of orange at the tips of their fins.
I've seen them often enough-on the other
fellows hook. Hello, [ can't even keep bait
on my own" He strung it again with the
fruity lure and sent his line to join the chorus
of singing reels. F'What's that the Scripture
says From him who hath little, shall be
taken even that which he hath?'"
"You don't seem to care much,' I OBJ
served.
Indeed" he answered quite eagerly, boy
ishly, 81 would like to have just one good
bite But I expect that by now all sensible
fish have folded their fins for the night
What's-Good Lord" For his pole was bend
ing perilously, his line humming out.
There was noble fight before he brought
his game to net A fine, firm fish, vibrant
with energy, springy as metal, and full
eight pounds. AS he Strengthened to get the
kinks out of his back he caught my eye. Il
can improve on that SCRIPTURE he said. ASK
and We shall receive!'"
And even the little gnome laughed.