others–but I do not perceive
that these my feelings are ^ much affected very much.
I do not pity the fishes nor the
worms. This is habit. But the
ramble by the river and meadow
seems to be is otherwise incomplete, and to
wants a sufficient purpose aim for itself–
without this purpose. The traveller
of the prairie is a hunter–of the
head-waters of the Missouri
& Columbia–a trapper. Those
who go to the Falls of St Mary
are fishermen. The traveller
who is only a traveller learns
things by the halves, and at
2nd hand–and is poor authori-
ty.– When ^ some of my friends have
asked me anxiously about their
boys–whether they should let them
hunt or not–I have answered
yes–remembering that it was
the best part of my education.
Aye Yes make them Hunters of such a stature skill & tenacity & enterprise ['enterprise' written over 'ambition'] that at last they shall
not find game large enough for them in these woods.
There is unquestionably this instinct
in me which belongs to the lower
orders of creation.– Yet with ev-
ery year I am less a fisherman,
though without more humanity.
^ or even wisdom as I fear–When I have caught my fish
& cooked them, I have gained
nothing by it, but perhaps lost