THE ANGLER'S REST live in a hollow cave near to the brow of that primrose hill. There I sate viewing the silver streams glide silently towards their centre, the tempestuous sea; yet sometimes opposed by rugged roots and pibble-stones, which broke their waves and turned them into foam: and sometimes viewing the harmless lambs, some leaping securely in the cool shade, whilst others sported themselves in the cheerful sun; and saw others craving comfort from the swollen udders of their bleating dams. As I thus sate, these and other sights had so fully possest my soul with content, that I thought, as the poet hath happily exprest it, 'I was for that time lifted above earth, And possest joyes not promis'd in my birth.' As I left this place and entered into the next field, a second pleasure entertained me; 'twas a handsome Milkmaid, that had not yet attained so much age and wisdom as to load her mind with any fears of many things that will never be, as too many men too often do; but she cast away all care, and sung like a nightingale; her voice was good and the ditty fitted for it it was that smooth song which was made by Kit Marlowe, now at least fifty years ago; and the milkmaid's mother sung an answer to it, which was made by Sir Walter Raleigh in his yonger days. II IRST let me tell you that, that very hour which FIRST you were absent from me, I sate down under a willow-tree by the water-side, and considered what you THE ANGLER'S REST had told me of the owner of that pleasant meadow in which you then left me; that he had a plentiful estate, and not a heart to think so; that he had at this time many law-suites depending, and that they both damp'd his mirth, and took up so much of his time and thoughts, that he himselfe had not leisure to take the sweet content that I, who pretended no title to them, took in his fields; for I could there sit quietly, and, looking on the water, see fishes leaping at flies of several shapes and colours; looking on the hills I could behold. them spotted with woods and groves; looking down the meadows, could see here a boy gathering lillies and lady-smocks and there a girle cropping culverkeyes 1 and cowslips, all to make garlands sutable to this present month of May. These and many other fieldflowers, so perfum'd the air, that I thought this meadow like the field in Sicily, of which Diodorus speaks, where the perfumes arising from the place make all dogs that hunt in it to fall off, and to lose their hottest scent. I say, as I thus sate, joying in mine own happy condition, and pittying that rich man that owned this and many other pleasant groves and meadows about me, I did thankfully remember what my Saviour said, that the meek possess the earth-or rather they enjoy what the others possess and enjoy not; for anglers, and meek quiet-spirited men, are free from those high, those restless thoughts and contentions which corrode the sweets of life. 1 Columbines IZAAK WALTON THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION BUT now, The Valley of Humiliation UT we will come again to this Valley of Humiliation. It is the best and most fruitful piece of Ground in all those parts. It is fat Ground, and as you see, consisteth much in Meddows; and if a man was to come here in the Summer time, as we do if he knew not anything before thereof, and if he also delighted himself in the sight of his Eyes, he might see that which would be delightful to him. Behold how green this Valley is; also how beautified with Lillies. I have also known many labouring Men that have got good Estates in this Valley of Humiliafor indeed it is a very fruitful Soil, and doth bring forth by handfuls. Some also have wished that the next way to their Father's House were here, that they might be troubled no more with either Hills or Mountains to go over; but the way is the way, and there's an end. tion; Now, as they were going along and talking, they espied a Boy feeding his Father's Sheep. The Boy was in very mean Cloaths, but of a fresh and wellfavoured Countenance; and as he sate by himself, he Sung. Hark! said Mr. Great-heart, to what the Shepherd's Boy saith. So they hearkened, and he said 'He that is down needs fear no fall, He that is low, no Pride; Have God to be His Guide, THE VALLEY OF HUMILIATION I am content with what I have, And, Lord, contentment still I crave, That go on Pilgrimage; Then said their Guide: Do you hear him? I will dare to say, that this Boy lives a merrier Life, and wears more of that Herb called Heart's-ease in his Bosom, then he that is clad in Silk and Velvet. But we will proceed in our discourse. In this valley our Lord formerly had his Countrey House; he loved much to be here. He loved also to walk these Medows, and he found the Air was pleasant. Besides, here a man shall be free from the Noise and from the hurryings of this Life; all States are full of Noise and Confusion, only the Valley of Humiliation is that empty and Solitary Place. Here a man shall not be so let and hindred in his Contemplation, as in other places he is apt to be. This is a Valley that no body walks in, but those that love a Pilgrim's life. And tho' Christian had the hard hap to meet here with Apollion, and to enter with him a brisk encounter: Yet I must tell you that in former times men have met with Angels here, have found Pearls here, and have in this place found the words of Life. JOHN BUNYAN PETERKIN'S PUDDING Of Ambitions AS nature makes us always unhappy in every state, our desires picture to us a happy state; because they add to the state in which we are the pleasures of the state in which we are not. And if we attained to these pleasures, we should not be happy after all; because we should have other desires natural to this new state. BLAISE PASCAL You Peterkin's Pudding OU never heard of Peterkin's pudding, by the way; but there is a fine moral baked in it. Johannes came to his wife one day and said, 'Liebes Gretchen, could you not make me a pudding such as Peterkin is always boasting his wife makes him? I am dying of envy to taste it. Every time he talks of it my chops water.' It is not impossible I could make you one,' said Gretchen good-naturedly; 'I will go and ask Frau Peterkin how she makes it.' When Johannes returned that evening from the workshop, where Peterkin had been raving more than ever over his wife's pudding, Gretchen said gleefully, 'I have been to Frau Peterkin: she has a good heart, and she gave me the whole recipe for Peterkin's pudding.' Johannes rubbed his hands, and his mouth watered already in anticipation. It is made with raisins,' began Gretchen. Johannes' jaw fell. • We can |