ticenoughtocarryitthrough.Itwassailingbydeadreckoningtothem,andtheysawnotclearlyhowtomaketheirportsothereforeIsupposetheystilltakelifebravely,aftertheirfashion,facetoface,givingittoothandnail,nothavingskilltosplititsmassivecolumnswithanyfineenteringwedge,androutitindetail—thinkingtodealwithitroughly,asoneshouldhandleathistle.Buttheyfightatanoverwhelmingdisadvantage,—living,JohnField,alas!withoutarithmetic,andfailingso.
“Doyoueverfish?”Iasked.“Ohyes,IcatchamessnowandthenwhenIamlyingbygoodperchIcatch.”“What’syourbait?”“Icatchshinerswithfish-worms,andbaittheperchwiththem.”“You’dbettergonow,John,”saidhiswife,withglisteningandhopefulfacebutJohndemurred.
Theshowerwasnowover,andarainbowabovetheeasternwoodspromisedafaireveningsoItookmydeparture.WhenIhadgotwithoutIaskedforadrink,hopingtogetasightofthewellbottom,tocompletemysurveyofthepremisesbutthere,alas!areshallowsandquicksands,andropebrokenwithal,andbucketirrecoverable.Meanwhiletherightculinaryvesselwasselected,waterwasseeminglydistilled,andafterconsultationandlongdelaypassedouttothethirstyone,—notyetsufferedtocool,notyettosettle.Suchgruelsustainslifehere,Ithoughtso,shuttingmyeyes,andexcludingthemotesbyaskilfullydirectedunder-current,IdranktogenuinehospitalitytheheartiestdraughtIcould.Iamnotsqueamishinsuchcaseswhenmannersareconcerned.
AsIwasleavingtheIrishman’sroofaftertherain,bendingmystepsagaintothepond,myhastetocatchpickerel,wadinginretiredmeadows,insloughsandbog-holes,inforlornandsavageplaces,appearedforaninstanttrivialtomewhohadbeensenttoschoolandcollegebutasIrandownthehilltowardthereddeningwest,withtherainbowovermyshoulder,andsomefainttinklingsoundsbornetomyearthroughthecleansedair,fromIknownotwhatquarter,myGoodGeniusseemedtosay,—Gofishandhuntfarandwidedaybyday,—fartherandwider,—andresttheebymanybrooksandhearth-sideswithoutmisgiving.RememberthyCreatorinthedaysofthyyouth.Risefreefromcarebeforethedawn,andseekadventures.Letth