142 IN THE GREEN LEAF 



was the expenditure regretted, that mutual ex- 

 planations, ending in a fight between the parties 

 most interested, was the result. As the worm 

 merchant afterwards appeared at the family 

 abode with various marks on his face, explana- 

 tions were not only needed, but were demanded, 

 and those that were offered did not meet with 

 acceptance. Some thought prompted the stern 

 parent to examine his precious store of worms, 

 and the result was, that his young son was per- 

 suaded to accept a dose of "ash-ile," liberal in 

 quantity, and of the very best quality. Things 

 in those far-off days worked, somehow, remark- 

 ably well. 



Regarding those precious worms, the brand- 

 lings, the method of preparing them for fishing 

 is not a mere fad or fancy. I have pursued 

 exactly the same course with them, and got 

 them up into fine condition. They are attrac- 

 tive from their colouring, which is arranged 

 in alternate rings of red and yellow ; but I do 

 not place them before common worms, for this 

 reason : the brandling is only to be found in 

 decayed matter, such as old manure-heaps, and 

 places of similar nature. When fish get worms 

 in the common course of nature, they have been 

 washed into the waters from the water- furrows 



