104 Sporting Sketches in Pen and Pencil. 



eujoyments which the poorer class of Londoner gets once in two 

 months or so in a day hy the river, on some favourite swim, even with 

 moderate sport. Say that he gets a half or three-quarter pound chuh 

 or perch, and a dozen or so of roach and hleak of modest dimensions. 

 He has got a fry for to-morrow, and he goes home as proud of it and 

 as much, and more, exultant over his catch than my lord is over his 

 401h. salmon. 



Coming out of the foetid atmosphere of some narrow little hack 

 street or ohscure court with- his bundle of rods, baskets, &c., at his back, 

 with a choice companion, reliant on his own resources, he trudges 

 through the night to some far-off spot, and at early dawn may be 

 found commencing operations under some old pollard, with his impedimenta 

 within hand's reach, and his stool snugly and safely posed, and his 

 companion ditto, ditto, within conversing distance of him, and it may be 

 said of him more truly than it can be said of other anglers " Atte the leest 

 he hath his holsom walke and mery at liis ease, a sweete ayre of the 

 sweete sauoure of the meede floures, that makytli hym hungry. He hereth 

 the melodyous armony of fowles ; he seeth the yonge swannes, herons, 

 duckes, cotes, and many other foules wyth theyr brodes ; whyche me 

 semyth better than alle the noyse of houndys, the blastes of horneys 

 and the scrye of foulis that hunters, fawkeaers, and foulers can 

 make. And yf the angler take fysshe, surely thenne is there noo man 

 merier than he is in his spyryte. Also who soo woll vse the game 

 of anglynge; he must ryse erly, whiche thyng is prouffytable to man in 

 this wyse, that is to wyte, moost to the heele of his soule, for it shall 

 cause hym to be holy; and to the heele of his body, for it shall cause 

 hym to be hole. Also to the increase of his goodys, for it shall make 

 hym ryche, as the olde englysshe prouerbe sayeth in this wyse : who soo 

 woU ryse erly shall be holy, helthy, and zely" — all of which sayeth the 

 good old Dame Juliana Earners, who assuredly had no lordly salmon 

 fisher in her mind when she wrote these words ; and if he take fish there 

 is no man merrier than is our friend the banker in his spirit, and if 

 anything can break through the horrible crust engendered by the foul 

 city life it is the contemplation and enjoyment of days like these. The 



