EASY, BUT NOT SO EASY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 1994, 7 September 1888, Page 5

EASY, BUT NOT SO EASY.

Jamie Gardner, the humble fisher of Burnfoot, has a great many rich friends, and, strange to say, they keep up friendly correspondence with the independent old Scot. He has both wit and sense ; sometimes a wealthy nephew or fashionable niece gets more than he or she bargained for from the homely uncl9. His cottage is just above the burn, and if Jamie has visitors he usually goes out early in the morning to fish, so that he may be able to spend the afternoon with them. Jamie's nephew was staying with him last '■ autumn, and the old fisher got up to go off on his fishing tour. The youth inquired where his uncle was going. ■ Jamie told him, and asked him if he could fish. I "Who could not fish 1 ?" exclaimed j the youth, as he got up to join his uncle. " A'body but fules can learn onyway," | replied Jamie, nettled at the youth's tone. , They were soon busy at the work, and by breakfast-time had got the length of the main river. Jamie had caught about two dozon trout, and his young companif n had never " got a bite." " Bah ! " exclaimed the youth, throwing his rod down, " I'm tired of this deuced business." " Tired already ! " cried the old man, with a chue'de, " Fishin's 110' sac easy as ye thocht, then 1 " " Oh, it's quite easy," stubbornly returned his nephew. "But who's going to be so Btupid as to whip the water for nothing 1 " The old fisher's grey eyes lighted up with a sarcastic humour. "Ye're richt, it's only stupid folk whup the water for naething, but ther're mair to be pitied than blamed," he said, quietly ; and added, with the air of a

philosopher, "Ay, fishin's rale easyit's catchin' fish that's the difficulty."