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line： for those that do not so shall usually find their line to have a hair or
two shrink； and be shorter than the rest； at the first fishing with it； which is
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so much of the strength of the line lost for want of first watering it； and
then re…twisting it； and this is most visible in a seven… hair line； one of
those which hath always a black hair in the middle。
And for dyeing of your hairs； do it thus： take a pint of strong ale； half a
pound of soot； and a little quantity of the juice of walnut…tree leaves； and
an equal quantity of alum： put these together into a pot； pan； or pipkin； and
boil them half an hour； and having so done； let it cool； and being cold； put
your hair into it； and there let it lie； it will turn your hair to be a kind of
water or glass colour； or greenish； and the longer you let it lie； the deeper
coloured it will be。 You might be taught to make many other colours； but it
is to little purpose； for doubtless the water…colour or glass…coloured hair is
the most choice and most useful for an angler； but let it not be too green。
But if you desire to colour hair greener； then do it thus： take a quart of
small ale； half a pound of alum； then put these into a pan or pipkin； and
your hair into it with them； then put it upon a fire； and let it boil softly for
half an hour； and then take out your hair； and let it dry； and having so done；
then take a pottle of water； and put into it two handfuls of marigolds； and
cover it with a tile or what you think fit； and set it again on the fire； where
it is to boil again softly for half an hour； about which time the scum will
turn yellow； then put into it half a pound of copperas； beaten small； and
with it the hair that you intend to colour； then let the hair be boiled softly
till half the liquor be wasted； and then let it cool three or four hours； with
your hair in it； and you are to observe that the more copperas you put into
it； the greener it will be； but doubtless the pale green is best。 But if you
desire yellow hair； which is only good when the weeds rot； then put in
more marigolds； and abate most of the copperas； or leave it quite out； and
take a little verdigris instead of it。
This for colouring your hair。
And as for painting your Rod； which must be in oil； you must first
make a size with glue and water； boiled together until the glue be
dissolved； and the size of a lye…colour： then strike your size upon the wood
with a bristle； or a brush or pencil； whilst it is hot： that being quite dry；
take white…lead； and a little red…lead； and a little coal…black； so much as
altogether will make an ash…colour： grind these altogether with linseed… oil；
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let it be thick； and lay it thin upon the wood with a brush or pencil： this do
for the ground of any colour to lie upon wood。
For a green； take pink and verdigris； and grind them together in linseed
oil； as thin as you can well grind it： then lay it smoothly on with your
brush； and drive it thin； once doing； for the most part； will serve； if you lay
it well； and if twice； be sure your first colour be thoroughly dry before you
lay on a second。
Well； Scholar； having now taught you to paint your rod； and we having
still a mile to Tottenham High…Cross； I will； as we walk towards it in the
cool shade of this sweet honeysuckle hedge； mention to you some of the
thoughts and joys that have possessed my soul since we two met together。
And these thoughts shall be told you； that you also may join with me in
thankfulness to the Giver of every good and perfect gift； for our happiness。
And that our present happiness may appear to be the greater； and we the
more thankful for it； I will beg you to consider with me how many do；
even at this very time； lie under the torment of the stone； the gout； and
tooth…ache； and this we are free from。 And every misery that I miss is a
new mercy； and therefore let us be thankful。 There have been； since we
met； others that have met disasters or broken limbs； some have been
blasted； others thunder…strucken： and we have been freed from these； and
all those many other miseries that threaten human nature； let us therefore
rejoice and be thankful。 Nay； which is a far greater mercy； we are free
from the insupportable burthen of an accusing tormenting conscience； a
misery that none can bear： and therefore let us praise Him for His
preventing grace； and say； Every misery that I miss is a new mercy。 Nay；
let me tell you； there be many that have forty times our estates； that would
give the greatest part of it to be healthful and cheerful like us； who； with
the expense of a little money； have eat and drunk； and laughed； and angled；
and sung； and slept securely； and rose next day and cast away care； and
sung； and laughed； and angled again； which are blessings rich men cannot
purchase with all their money。 Let me tell you； Scholar； I have a rich
neighbour that is always so busy that he has no leisure to laugh； the whole
business of his life is to get money； and more money； that he may still get
more and more money； he is still drudging on； and says； that Solomon
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says '‘The diligent hand maketh rich〃； and it is true indeed： but he
considers not that it is not in the power of riches to make a man happy； for
it was wisely said； by a man of great observation； 〃 That there be as many
miseries beyond riches as on this side of them 〃。 And yet God deliver us
from pinching poverty； and grant； that having a competency； we may be
content and thankful。 Let not us repine； or so much as think the gifts of
God unequally dealt； if we see another abound with riches； when； as God
knows； the cares that are the keys that keep those riches hang often so
heavily at the rich man's girdle； that they clog him with weary days and
restless nights； even when others sleep quietly。 We see but the outside of
the rich man's happiness： few consider him to be like the silk…worm； that；
when she seems to play； is； at the very same time； spinning her own
bowels； and consuming herself； and this many rich men do； loading
themselves