V 



144 LITER A TURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



The Honble. and Rev. Robert Liddell is another clergy- 

 man among the poets of the Angle. He published the 

 first canto of The Lay of the Last Angler, as a "tribute 

 to the Tweed at Melrose," at the end of the season of 1867. 

 The third canto appeared in 1874; but they were all 

 printed " for private circulation only." They afford a rich 

 poetical treat to any angler who is fortunate enough to get 

 hold of a copy. 



Numerous angling songs and poems by different modern 

 writers have appeared during the last few years in the 

 pages of magazines and newspapers more or less devoted 

 to national pastimes, both here and in America. Many of 

 them are of great beauty, and will perhaps appear in some 

 more permanent form. We must restrain our desire to 

 quote them, contenting ourselves with the following lines 

 on a humble brook, by Carl Waring, published in the Ameri- 

 can Forest and Stream ■: — 



" You see it first near the dusty road, 

 Where the farmer stops with his heavy load 



At the foot of a weary hill ; 

 There the mossy trough it overflows. 

 Then away with a leap and a laugh it goes 



At its own sweet wandering will. 



"It flows through an orchard gnarl'd and old, 

 Where in the spring the dainty buds unfold 



Their petals pink and white ; 

 The apple blossoms so sweet and pure. 

 The streamlet's smiles and songs allure, 



To float off on the ripples bright. 



" It winds through the meadow scarcely seen. 

 For o'er it the flowers and grasses lean 



To salute its smiling face ; 

 And thus, half hidden, it ripples along, 

 The whole way singing its summer song, 



Making glad each arid place. 



