1 6 DAYS IN DOVE DALE 



for all the country round, and Saturday always 

 brings a number of visitors. They came in 

 four-horse coaches, in " Derby dillies carrying 

 six inside," in vans, and waggonettes, and traps, 

 all soaked in rain, and in rain some of the 

 most adventurous started off for the river ; but 

 most remained under the friendly shelter of the 

 hotel. 



Happy youths and maidens, what cared they 

 for wind or weather ! They departed as they 

 came, in a steady downpour, happy and joyous 

 as if in the brightest sunshine. 



Yesterday afternoon, it being tolerably fine, 

 I started off to survey, in sunshine, the scenes 

 of my previous day's exploits in showers. 



I was accompanied only by my umbrella, 

 and having as suddenly become a lover of 

 nature as I had become a disciple of Izaak 

 Walton, I revelled in the beauties of the ever- 

 changing scenery through which I rambled ; 

 but now a sad reflection was forced upon me. 

 I have been a business man for nearly fifty 

 years, alas ! 



"Hackney'd in business, weaned at the oar 

 Which thousands once fast chained to quit no 

 more ! " 



