THE GAliDEtfER'S DBEAM. 



give him time, ' to make assurance surer,' and finally 

 strike and bring out my prey; it is always the old 

 eternal snig, which, but a size larger than the bait 

 itself, not only contrives to gorge it wholly, but to 

 fix it by some disgusting process in the centre of its 

 slimy form. I can bear no more. Dissolve, vision. 

 Vanish, gentle Angler, Go ! " 



The Angler vanished, and was followed by a 

 succession of tableaux vivants, representations of our 

 sports, pastimes, and recreations. The gentleman 

 rider, pale from training, and excitement too, but 

 cool and brave as Curtius, came down at speed to the 

 broad, sullen water, and cleared it, while a thousand 

 cheered. The gentleman " whip " sat upon his dark 

 handsome drag, driving with a quiet and graceful ease 

 his high-bred four-in-hand. Cricketers, rejoicing in 

 youth and health, lithe of lirnb and springy as deer, 

 made magnificent hits to square leg for six, and ran 

 with the speed of Fortunio's Lightfoot to achieve the 

 distant catch. The yachtsman, all sails set, steered 

 past the winning buoy, and great guns boomed his 

 victory. The oarsman pulled his long, steady stroke, 

 and his eye flashed with a righteous pride, as the 

 men of his university, or the boys of his school, were 

 shouting his well-won praise. The tennis-player 

 stood, racket in hand, watching the ball as it came 

 bounding from " the service-side," foreseeing all its 

 varied course, calmly waiting its final fall, sending it 

 like a bullet into the Dedans (friends will be pleased 

 to accept this intimation, and to duck their heads if 

 they want their eyesight), and so winning the set. 

 Archer?, with yew bows, and archeresses, with beaux 



