THE ANGLERS SOUVENIR. 



II 



of such an occasion. The kind master masters 

 who occasionally give such an indulgence are al- 

 ways kind, good men with a suppressed smile of 

 satisfaction announces the glad tidings, and im- 

 mediately retires, that he may not witness the 

 somewhat indecorous haste with which books and 

 slates are laid aside, and hats and caps scrambled 

 for. Like a swarm of bees casting, they rush out 

 of school with a joyful hum, and then, spreading 

 themselves in groups upon the green, hold council 

 how they shall best dispose of the portion of golden 

 time which has been accorded to them per gratiam 

 domini through the kindness of the master. One 

 party is off to the meadow, to plague the farmer by 

 tumbling among the hay, when they pretend to assist 

 him in tedding it ; another is gone to the wood and 

 the coppice, to cut sticks, gather flowers, and seek 

 bird-nests ; and a third has determined to try the 

 fishing, after taking a bathe in the Friar's Pool, as 

 they go up the burn. Those of the latter party 

 who have rods, now produce them, and a survey and 

 fitting of tackle take place ; while such as are not 

 so well provided set out in search of brandling 

 worms and cad-bait ; their reward for such service 

 being a cast now and then, with the honour of 

 carrying the fish home. 



To attend our fishing-party : they have now had 

 their bathe in the Friar's Pool ; the swimmers 

 boldly plunging in from the ledge of rocks at the 

 head, and the sinkers prudently confining them- 



