FAREWELL FEAST OF ANGLING CLUB. 199 



dawn, when we set forth, for now it was calm, beauti- 

 ful, and serene. There were an handful or two of 

 clouds up amid the azure of heaven, indolently basking 

 in the retiring sun-rays. Spiritual existences were they 

 not, draperied with ether, curious of the evolutions of 

 spheres or the abodes of humanity ? At the meadow- 

 Foot waded a heron, with his long skeleton-legs half 

 immersed in the ford ; but now, spreading his huge, 

 broad wings, away he sailed, homeward to his distant 

 nest. We were wet, tired, and hungry, willing to bid 

 our brief adieu to the river margin. Our tackle was 

 soon overhauled, and the contents of our creels emptied 

 out, side by side, upon the mossy sward. 



I know not of a more generous feast for the eye 

 than a display of this nature ! It is worth a peep 

 at the regalia of an Eastern Khan. Here the very 

 confusion is the finest order. Were we to arrange the 

 fish in rows or pairs, according to their sizes, how stiff 

 and stall-like they would appear ; but tumble them 

 over carelessly upon the grass, and they will assume 

 attitudes of the greatest beauty. N"o ordinary take of 

 trout had we on that occasion ; in all, seven and 

 twenty dozen ; a couple of two and nine one-pounders, 

 fifty and more half the latter size, and the rest smaller 

 but not despicable fish. 



Such was a memorable day's doings in company 

 with my late friend, the Ettrick Shepherd. Many 

 others have I spent of a similar sort, and none, can 

 I well recollect, which failed to exhibit feats on his 



