COATE FARM. 41 



way and then alter it, so as to act in the other 

 direction like an elongated zigzag. These 

 sculls the old fellow would bring you as if 

 they were great treasures, and watch you off 

 in the punt as if he was parting with his 

 dearest. At that date it was no little matter 

 to coax him round to unchain his vessel. You 

 had to take an interest in the garden, in the 

 baits, and the weather, and be very humble ; 

 then perhaps he would tell you he did not 

 want it for the trimmers, or the withy, or the 

 flags, and you might have it for an hour as 

 far as he could see ; ' did not think my lord's 

 steward would come over that morning; of 

 course, if he did you must come in/ and so 

 on ; and if the stars were propitious, by-the- 

 bye, the punt was got afloat." 



Then the writer he was a dying man 

 sings his song of lament because the past is 

 past and dead. All that is past, and that 

 we shall never see again, is dead. The brook 

 that used to leap and run and chatter it is 

 dead. The trees that used to put on new 

 leaves every spring they are dead. All is 



