FISHERMAN'S LUCK
AND
SOME OTHER UNCERTAIN THINGS

by Henry van Dyke

"Now I conclude that not only in Physicke, but likewise in
sundry more certaine arts, fortune hath great share in
them."
M. DE MONTAIGNE: Divers Events.

DEDICATION TO MY LADY GRAYGOWN

Here is the basket; I bring it home to you. There are no great fish in it. But perhaps there may be one or two little ones which will be to your taste. And there are a few shining pebbles from the bed of the brook, and ferns from the cool, green woods, and wild flowers from the places that you remember. I would fain console you, if I could, for the hardship of having married an angler: a man who relapses into his mania with the return of every spring, and never sees a little river without wishing to fish in it. But after all, we have had good times together as we have followed the stream of life towards the sea. And we have passed through the dark days without losing heart, because we were comrades. So let this book tell you one thing that is certain. In all the life of your fisherman the best piece of luck is just YOU.

CONTENTS


[ FISHERMAN'S LUCK ]

[ THE THRILLING MOMENT ]

[ TALKABILITY ]

[ I. PRELUDE—ON AN OLD, FOOLISH MAXIM ]

[ II. THEME—ON A SMALL, USEFUL VIRTUE ]

[ III. VARIATIONS—ON A PLEASANT PHRASE FROM MONTAIGNE ]

[ A WILD STRAWBERRY ]

[ LOVERS AND LANDSCAPE ]

[ A FATAL SUCCESS ]

[ A NORWEGIAN HONEYMOON ]

[ WHO OWNS THE MOUNTAINS? ]

[ A LAZY, IDLE BROOK ]

[ I. A CASUAL INTRODUCTION ]

[ II. A BETTER ACQUAINTANCE ]

[ III. THE SECRETS OF INTIMACY ]

[ THE OPEN FIRE ]

[ I. LIGHTING UP ]

[ II. THE CAMP-FIRE ]

[ III. THE COOKING-FIRE ]

[ IV. THE SMUDGE-FIRE ]

[ V. THE LITTLE FRIENDSHIP-FIRE ]

[ VI. ALTARS OF REMEMBRANCE ]

[ A SLUMBER SONG FOR THE FISHERMAN'S CHILD ]

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