THE GARDENERS DREAM. 7 



capered, upon the opposite bank. He pointed to a 

 magnificent salmon, its silvery scales shimmering in 

 the sunlight (this beautiful example of Sigmatismus 

 is entered at Stationers' Hall, and to imitate it much 

 is felony) such a one as you have seen at Mr. 

 Grove's, in Bond Street, and weighing over 301bs. 

 He roared across the river Kingsley's line, 



" Was ever salmon yet that shone so fair? " 



together with an invitation to dine ; and in two 

 second?, as ever in dreams, we had dined excellently, 

 and I was sitting in his snuggery, an apartment 

 adorned with rods, and nets, and gaffs : with fishing 

 boots, which he called his " Wade-Mecums ; " with 

 a small library of books, all filled with fly-leaves ; 

 with boxes of feathers, fluffs, and furs ; and having, 

 over the mantel-piece, the usual perch, enormous, 

 with his eyes half out of his head, from surprise at 

 his own obesity. 



Forthwith he commenced an elaborate dissertation 

 on the life of a complete angler. It was a life, he said, 

 of calm contentment, and of a sweet and thankful 

 peace. It was passed amid scenes of surpassing 

 beauty, the wild grandeur of Connemara's mountains, 

 the solemn stillness of Norwegian fiords, the cheerful 

 loveliness of Scotland's lakes, the sunny song-fraught 

 charms of England's meadow-streams. To enhance, 

 at intervals, these simple joys, there were such 

 excitements as I had seen that day the giant fish, 

 fast hooked and fighting for his life, now shooting 

 away like a rocket, now flinging himself in noble rage 



