500 ifcfnas of tbe 1Rofc, IRffle, an& 6un 



Hark to the music of the reel! 



'Tis hush'd, it hath forsaken; 

 With care we'll guard the magic wheel, 



Until its notes re waken. 



IV 



A birr! a whirr! the salmon's up, 

 Give line, give line and measure ; 

 But now he turns! keep down ahead, 

 And lead him as a child is led, 

 And land him at your leisure. 

 Hark to the music of the reel! 



'Tis welcome, it is glorious, 

 It wanders through the winding wheel, 

 Returning and victorious. 



A birr ! a whirr ! the salmon's in, 



Upon the bank extended ; 

 The princely fish is gasping slow, 

 His brilliant colours come and go 

 All beautifully blended. 

 Hark to the music of the reel ! 



It murmurs and it closes ; 

 Silence is on the conquering wheel, 

 Its wearied line reposes. 



VI 



No birr! no whirr! the salmon's ours, 



The noble fish the thumper: 

 Strike through his gill the ready gaff, 

 And bending homewards, we shall quaff 

 Another glorious bumper. 

 Hark to the music of the reel ! 



We listen with devotion ; 

 There's something in that circling wheel 

 That wakes the heart's emotion ! 



Those who knew Stoddart best said that it was not in 

 the number or the size of the fish he captured that he 

 was distinguished from other anglers, but in his "un- 



