An Old-fashioned Bridge. 



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birds were attracted by the sounds. Slow and solemn 

 airs they enjoyed seemingly, but whenever anything 

 lighter or more lively was played they were off. 



In a very little time we come to an old-fashioned 

 stone bridge rising high in the middle a great resort 

 of anglers a favourite starting-point indeed when pro- 

 ceeding to fish either up or down the stream. It is, 

 too, on certain afternoons a favourite resort for the 

 boys from a school near by, the younger ones running 

 about the greeny margins and searching for tiny eels, 



. 



and this and that, while the elders ply the rod and line 

 and return proud of a few small dace or minnows. In 

 the warm afternoons of summer they will occasionally, 

 in protected leafy corners near by, indulge themselves 

 in a stealthy bathe, which is far more leisurely than 

 might be supposed possible in connection with any- 

 thing stolen, for they run about the banks and play 

 games in the water. 



Often have I stood by the side of the water here and 

 wondered at the fair reflection that this old bridge makes 

 in the afternoons when the sun is shining. The water 



