50 WA TERSIDE SKE TCHES. 



angler who quaintly asked no higher bliss than to live 

 harmlessly : 



" Where I may see my quill or cork down sink 

 With eager bite of perch, or bleak, or dace ; 

 And on the world and my Creator think 

 Whilst some men strive ill-gotten goods t'embrace, 

 And others spend their time in base excess 

 Of wine, or worse, in war and wantonness." 



My courteous locksmith's apprentice a thorough gentle- 

 man at heart would hold no intercourse with these ne'er- 

 do-wells. He had discovered a sweet nook at the junction 

 of the main with a smaller stream, and there, Chidden in- 

 overhanging alder boughs, he perseveringly plied his lures. 

 The lad was very poor, and, as he confessed to me, denied 

 himself all superfluities', and some necessaries, to raise the 

 four shillings which his fortnightly trip to Henley cost him. 

 He had never missed his Sunday for two seasons. He was 

 great in theories. He had a theory about everything 

 about tying a knot, about impaling gentles, about striking 

 and landing. His greatest achievement was the killing of 

 a fine trout without running tackle and with an ordinary 

 roach rod. Some club men refused to speak to him be- 

 cause he wore threadbare velveteen and highly bleached 

 corduroy ; but, as he informed me with a comical smile, 

 they could be very gracious to the youth if they ran short 

 of baits or hooks. With all their wiles and questionable 

 play, the locksmith could beat them hollow at fishing. 

 When to most eyes there was no movement of his porcu- 

 pine float he would be fast to a fish. The prettiest bit of 

 angling I ever saw was his handling of a vigorous pound- 

 and-half roach in a roughish stream. I have often wondered 



