108 LONDON ANGLER'S BOOK, 



I never left thy sedgy shore 

 But I loved the old Lea more and more, 

 And back I came to its banks to rest, 

 And there my truant fault confessed ; 

 And thou will ever be dear to me, 

 For I was born, was born by the river Lea. 

 For I was, &c. 



3. 



The wind blew light on the hazy morn 

 O'er the Lea the hour that I was born, 

 The Perch he bristled, the Barbel rolled, 

 And the Carp displayed his side of gold, 

 The Pike and Trout were sporting wild 

 Alarm'd at the birth of the fishing child. 

 I've lived since then midst joy and strife 

 Full thirl y summers an angling life, 

 With a crown to spend, and time to range, 

 And I never have sighed or wished for change, 

 And while I have health and strength to be 

 On thy banks, I'll fish, I'll fish my favorite Lea. 

 On thy banks, &c. 



The river Lea enters the Thames at Blackwall, 

 running past Stratford and Bow, the tide flowing 

 up to Temple Mills, about which, and at Bromley 

 and Old Ford there is good fishing at times, but the 

 nature of the banks and the tide makes it very dis- 

 agreeable. The white house water above Old Ford 

 is a subscription water, and the first on the Lea from 



