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ly up to the mark； for we could sometimes do that on a rainy day。 Going down to the village store was not very exciting； and was； on the whole； a waste of our precious time。 Unless we could get out our military company； life was apt to be a little blank； even on the holidays for which we had worked so hard。 If you went to see another boy； he was probably at work in the hay… field or the potato…patch； and his father looked at you askance。 You sometimes took hold and helped him； so that he could go and play with you； but it was usually time to go for the cows before the task was done。 The fact is； or used to be； that the amusements of a boy in the country are not many。 Snaring 〃suckers〃 out of the deep meadow brook used to be about as good as any that I had。 The North American sucker is not an engaging animal in all respects； his body is comely enough； but his mouth is puckered up like that of a purse。 The mouth is not formed for the gentle angle…worm nor the delusive fly of the fishermen。 It is necessary； therefore； to snare the fish if you want him。 In the sunny days he lies in the deep pools； by some big stone or near the bank； poising himself quite still； or only stirring his fins a little now and then； as an elephant moves his ears。 He will lie so for hours； or rather float； in perfect idleness and apparent bliss。 The boy who also has a holiday； but cannot keep still； comes along and peeps over the bank。 〃Golly； ain't he a big one！〃 Perhaps he is eighteen inches long； and weighs two or three pounds。 He lies there among his friends； little fish and big ones； quite a school of them； perhaps a district school； that only keeps in warm days in the summer。 The pupils seem to have little to learn； except to balance themselves and to turn gracefully with a flirt of the tail。 Not much is taught but 〃deportment；〃 and some of the old suckers are perfect Turveydrops in that。 The boy is armed with a pole and a stout line； and on the end of it a brass wire bent into a hoop； which is a slipnoose； and slides together when anything is caught in it。 The boy approaches the bank and looks over。 There he lies； calm as a whale。 The boy devours him with his eyes。 He is almost too much excited to drop the snare into the water without making a noise。 A puff of wind comes and ruffles the surface； so that he cannot see the fish。 It is calm again； and there he still is； moving his fins in peaceful security。 The boy lowers his snare behind the fish and slips it along。 He intends to get it around him just back of the gills and then elevate him with a sudden jerk。 It is a delicate operation； for the snare will turn a little； and if it hits the fish； he is off。 However； it goes well； the wire is almost in place； when suddenly the fish； as if he had a warning in a dream； for he appears to see nothing； moves his tail just a little； glides out of the loop； and with no seeming appearance of frustrating any one's plans； lounges over to the other side of the pool； and there he reposes just as if he was not spoiling the boy's holiday。 This slight change of base on the part of the fish requires the boy to reorganize his whole campaign； get a new position on the bank； a new line of approach； and patiently wait for the wind and sun before he can lower his line。 This time； cunning and patience are rewarded。 The hoop encircles the unsuspecting fish。 The boy's eyes almost start from his head as he gives a tremendous jerk； and feels by the dead…weight that he has got him fast。 Out he comes； up he goes in the air； and the boy runs to look at him。 In this transaction； however； no one can be more surprised than the sucker。
VII
FICTION AND SENTIMENT
The boy farmer does not appreciate school vacations as highly as his city cousin。 When school keeps； he has only to 〃do chores and go to school；〃 but between terms there are a thousand things on the farm that have been left for the boy to do。 Picking up stones in the pastures and piling them in heaps used to be one of them。 Some lots appeared to grow stones； or else the sun every year drew them to the surface； as it coaxes the round cantelopes out of the soft garden soil； it is certain that there were fields that always gave the boys this sort of fall work。 And very lively work it was on frosty mornings for the barefooted boys； who were continually turning up the larger stones in order to stand for a moment in the warm place that had been covered from the frost。 A boy can stand on one leg as well as a Holland stork； and the boy who found a warm spot for the sole of his foot was likely to stand in it until the words； 〃Come； stir your stumps；〃 broke in discordantly upon his meditations。 For the boy is very much given to meditations。 If he had his way； he would do nothing in a hurry； he likes to stop and think about things； and enjoy his work as he goes along。 He picks up potatoes as if each one were a lump of gold just turned out of the dirt； and requiring careful examination。
Although the country…boy feels a little joy when school breaks up （as he does when anything breaks up； or any change takes place）； since he is released from the discipline and restraint of it； yet the school is his opening into the world；his romance。 Its opportunities for enjoyment are numberless。 He does not exactly know what he is set at books for； he takes spelling rather as an exercise for his lungs； standing up and shouting out the words with entire recklessness of consequences； he grapples doggedly with arithmetic and geography as something that must be cleared out of his way before recess； but not at all with the zest he would dig a woodchuck out of his hole。 But recess！ Was ever any enjoyment so keen as that with which a boy rushes out of the schoolhouse door for the ten minutes of recess？ He is like to burst with animal spirits； he runs like a deer； he can nearly fly； and he throws himself into play with entire self… forgetfulness； and an energy that would overturn the world if his strength were proportioned to it。 For ten minutes the world is absolutely his； the weights are taken off； restraints are loosed； and he is his own master for that brief time；as he never again will be if he lives to be as old as the king of Thule；and nobody knows how old he was。 And there is the nooning； a solid hour； in which vast projects can be carried out which have been slyly matured during the school…hours： expeditions are undertaken； wars are begun between the Indians on one side and the settlers on the other； the military company is drilled （without uniforms or arms）； or games are carried on which involve miles of running； and an expenditure of wind sufficient to spell the spelling…book through at the highest pitch。
Friendships are formed； too； which are fervent； if not enduring； and enmities contracted which are frequently 〃taken out〃 on the spot； after a rough fashion boys have of settling as they go along； cases of long credit； either in words or trade； are not frequent with boys； boot on jack…knives must be paid on the nail； and it is considered much more honorable to out with a personal grievance at once； even if the explanation is made with the fists； than to pretend fair； and then take a sneakin