FISHES AND FISHING. 195 



premises abutting on the river Mole, a stout, good- 

 tempered old bachelor, in easy circumstances, ani 

 fond of practical jokes, was asked by the village sur 

 geon, with whom he was on intimate terms, to have 

 some proper ground-bait thrown into the river, in a 

 hole adjoining his (the tanner's) grounds, as he (the 

 surgeon) had a friend coming from London to have 

 some perch fishing ; the tanner said, " he would bait 

 the hole." The anglers arrived at the spot, and began ; 

 eaoh, on the first swim had an apparent bite, afid each 

 lost a hook ; this occurring again and again, the sur 

 geon went home without being observed by the tan 

 ner's people, and brought a grapnel, with which he 

 pulled up one or two small faggots, in which were 

 tied up pieces of old iron to sink them. He and his 

 friend left the place, and meeting the tanner, thanked 

 him for allowing them to fish, and for the trouble he 

 had taken in baiting the place, but said the perch 

 would not feed, the wind or sun was not favourable, 

 or some excuse of the kind, which disappointed the 

 tanner of his laugh at them. Some time after, on a 

 very hot day in July, the tanner had to ride to Lon 

 don on some business, and returning in the evening, 

 he found it necessary to send his old maid servant for 

 some plaister. The village Esculapius wormed out 

 for what purpose it was required, and persuaded her 

 to take plaisters which he prepared. The tanner 



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