A YEAR OF LIBERTY. 



CHAPTER I. 



Private and Confidontial Ai'rival at Lismore ^Misgivings Fish in the River 

 Scholar's Throw Tendency of the Blackwator to get out of Order 

 "Show you the River, sir?" The Bony Horse Unexpected Fresh A 

 Walk in the Woods Ara Glen Operations Resumed The Lessee Sport 

 for the Week Expenses. 



)HERE was no happier man in Her Majesty's dominions than 

 51 I, on the morning of January 30, 1805. During the pre- 

 vious sixteen years, I had passed fifteen entire angling 

 seasons in Leland ; but in the last I had been less fortunate, 

 circumstances having bound me a close prisoner at home. The 

 Salmon Act of 1862 was at length in full operation. "Queen's 

 gaps" where no such royal roads previously existed, increased 

 weekly close-time, together with the progressive demolition of 

 "fixed engines," promised great things, as I lay awake on that 

 blessed morning, thinking the dull dawn would never brighten 

 into day. Though nearly dark, the sun was shining on a world 

 of my own. for I was free free to come ; free to go ; free to 

 wander over delicious mountains, or rest by the sparkling river, 

 and there drink in new life from the contemplation of an eternal 

 youth, as fresh and bright as when the morning stars first sang 

 together. 



So many doubts and fears crowded the space between hope and 

 fruition, that it seemed difl^cult to believe that tlje first 4av of my 

 -^ " ^ 



