CHAPTER I 



FROM "THE IZAAK WALTON" TO THE WALTON 

 AND COTTON FISHING HOUSE, BERESFORD 

 DALE. 



" Grey sky, green trees, a shadowed stream, 

 A gilded spire-top's distant gleam, 

 A rod, a reel, a book of flies, 

 A dozen pleasant memories. 



"A homeward trudge thro' mist-wrapt night, 

 A heart and creel, in common, light ; 

 Complete content the day has brought it 

 He fished for pleasure and he caught it!" 



(From The Optimist, by H. J. WISE.) 



.HESE lines, very aptly sent to me 

 by a friend, appropriately head 

 and represent the experiences I 

 am now about to put on record. 

 On asking my fair correspondent who Mr. 

 H, J. Wise is, or was, she replied : " No mere 



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