22 ANGLING REMINISCENCES. 



to give a very ludicrous effect to all attempts at 

 seriousness on the part of those with whom he hap- 

 pened to be consorted. Mr. Guddle died of apoplexy 

 in the seventy-third year of his age. A most erron- 

 eous report was, however, circulated, that being bitten 

 by a water-rat while engaged in ransacking a small burn 

 close to Brosy-beck Ha', he was seized with hydropho- 

 bia a few days after. This statement, we aver, upon 

 the authority of his medical attendant, to be totally 

 incorrect. 



Such is the amount of all our recollections with 

 regard to the pristine fraternity at C h. Alas, 

 all its patriarchs have returned to their fathers ! 

 Ged-grapple was shot dead by an exciseman, having 

 resisted the seizure of some illegal spirits which he had 

 in his possession ; and Sir Amalek All-gab cleared 

 a road into his coffin by cutting his own throat, which 

 it seems he was not allowed to make unlimited use of 

 during a contested election. As for the other mem- 

 bers, having forgotten their names, we have also 

 forgotten their fates. Should there be one alive, from 

 our heart we compassionate him. But why, when old 

 men have no affections like the young when their 

 remembrances are closely sealed up, and ours open afresh, 

 we sometimes know not wherefore when how unlike 

 us ! they look upon the world without anxiety, and 

 their fears of parting from it are all time-subdued ? 

 Pity them ! Ay ! nevertheless we do, even because 

 they are so deserted by the glad springs of feeling, be- 



