5)0 PERCH FISHING CLUB. 



ting cry of the hounds, all left an impression on 

 the mind, which even old age itself will never be 

 able to obliterate. Wh : le T write this ' with spec- 

 4 tacles on nose,"* and half a century over my head, 

 I feel all the zest of the moment I have described. 

 I neither mean to justify the sport, or the way in 

 which my time was then spent, but where there 

 was an absence of positive vice, the happy moments 

 of one's youth may now and then be recurred to. 

 How readily do I bring to my recollection some of 

 the impressions of those pleasant hours. In a 

 neighbouring village lived the old friend of my 

 younger days, Dr. Aston. His vicarage was alike 

 remarkable for its neatness and hospitality. Situate 

 in the centre of a pretty village, with the church, 

 its beautiful spire, and a bubbling trout stream 

 close to it, it seemed the very beau ideal of a coun- 

 try parsonage. Here the worthy doctor exercised 

 his kindness both to rich and poor ; he was loved 

 by every one ; indeed it was impossible it should 

 be otherwise. He had a simplicity of manner, a 

 heartiness, and such a jolly good temper which 

 nothing could disturb, that he was greeted with 

 smiles and good wishes wherever he went. He 

 certainly preached, sooth to say, a prosy sermon 

 on a Sunday, but then he relieved the distressed, 

 and endeavoured to reclaim the vicious. I was 

 in the constant habit of calling upon him when the 

 hounds threw off near his house. He then came 



