O A YEAR OF LIBERTY; OR, 



As tlie salmon-rod must rest for one day at least, we will take the 

 reader to a cliarming little trout stream which crosses the high road, 

 about two miles north-west of the town. It is the type and flower 

 of mountain brooks, leaping in a series of noble cascades through a 

 wooded ravine. Wonderfully wild and beautiful is Ara Glen, its sides 

 clothed with oak and holly, pine and hazel. The winter floods have 

 swept away the underwood, leaving sufficient space for a skilful 

 angler. But little matters it what fly he throws, so it be small : 

 light or dark, silk body or fur, each seems as good as the other and 

 " perhaps better." 



About the list of killed, the less said the better ; for the season is 

 early and the fish hardly yet in condition. Rather let me whisper that 

 any perf oimer as good as youi'self, sir, for example, will not only bag 

 here as many well-made '' stumps of trout" as ever he killed in his 

 life, but will moreover see a glen so weird, solitary, and beautiful, as 

 shall take him half a lifetime to match. 



The fresh cleared off sooner than we expected ; in fact, it only 

 lasted a couple of days. For the remainder of the week the weather 

 was favourable, and the sport as bad as possible, the total for the six 

 days being only two spring fish, five ascending ditto, and one brown 

 trout about 31bi 



Before closing this chapter it is necessary to say that the first step 

 to be taken by an angler on his arrival at Lismore is to write to the 

 kind and courteous lessee for permission. This is rarely refused to 

 ft stranger, who is, however, expected to take care of such fish as he 

 inay kill, and hand them over to Old Shehan as soon as possible. 



Ye potent spirits, . s. and Co., what could we do without you ? 

 You certainly meddle awfully with our family affairs. You present 

 the spoon which holds our first mouthful of pap ; engross the marridge 

 settlement, and hire the mourning-coach ; keep us at home, or send 

 Us abroad, and fill our hearts with heaviness or our lips with laughter. 

 1 added up the waybill as I moralised, and found the joutney cost 

 exactly 21 Is. per head. 



