128 DOVE DALE REVISITED 



to veneration, that I was permitted once again 

 to see and to introduce my friends to the outside 

 of the Walton and Cotton Fishing House at the 

 head of Beresford Dale, for strange to say our 

 host of " The Izaak Walton " had never seen 

 this remarkable temple sacred to all anglers, and 

 yet he has shot rooks in the woods overhanging 

 this spot and adjoining Beresford Hall (now 

 pulled down). 



I am glad to say that we found the little 

 temple in a state of excellent preservation. Of 

 course the door was locked, but we did not feel 

 that we were guilty of impertinent curiosity when 

 we strove to look into the sanctum through the 

 windows. The motto above the door sufficiently 

 justified us, " Piscatoribus Sacrum," and are we 

 not piscators ? Could we not say with " Viator," 

 " Why then I perceive I have some title here, 

 for I am one of them, though one of the worst "? 

 There we could see the old circular marble 

 table, and the same half-a-dozen old armchairs, 

 and the old oak settee all of which I presume 

 are the same as those seen by me in 1884, but 

 assuredly not those mentioned by " Viator," 

 " all exceeding neat, with a marble table and all 

 in the middle." 



