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fisherman one who let any sentiment stand in the way 

 of his killing fish, which after all is the chief end of man, 

 the angler. There was a challenge from Thomas Tod 

 Stoddart and John Wilson, as representatives of what 

 they were pleased to call " the old school " of anglers, to 

 Stewart and anyone he liked to name as the represen- 

 tatives of the new school, to fish the Tweed or Teviot for 

 two days. The great match never came off ; but Miss 

 Stoddart regretfully expresses her opinion that if it had 

 come off victory would have gone to Mr. Stewart and 

 the new school. And in that opinion I entirely agree 

 with her. 



But apart from these little irritations, life passed 

 pleasantly with Thomas Tod Stoddart. He could have 

 said with Wordsworth, 



Hence have I genial seasons, hence have I 



Smooth passions, smooth discourse and joyous thought : 



And thus from day to day my little boat 



Rocks in its harbour, lodging peaceably. 



His daughter gives us this pleasing picture of him as 

 his days drew to their close : 



" In the evening when supper was over, his desk was 

 put on the table, and for two hours his pen was busy. 

 The habit of seeking daily expression in writing was one 

 acquired in boyhood ; and although much of what he 

 wrote was destroyed, and much of his later work was 

 overweighted with cumbrous phrasing, his steady resort 

 to it proved the characteristic, if not very practical, 

 vitality of his mind. He had a native indisposition to 

 prescribed work, but by no means the natural indolence 



