108 PERCH FISHING CLUB. 



looked upon an extensive meadow, through which 

 our pretty stream wandered where its fancy seemed 

 to lead it, and which was adorned by the numerous 

 flocks and herds of our landlord, giving us a pic- 

 ture of 



' A painted meadow, and a purling stream.' 



Every thing we saw from the window bespoke 

 prosperity and content, and every one in the house 

 appeared joyous and well fed. The room we sat in 

 requires a description. It was long and low, having 

 its corner cupboards in which certain specimens of 

 old china, odd fashioned glasses, and silver tankards 

 were duly displayed. An ostrich's egg was sus- 

 pended from the roof, together with a sort of china 

 ball on which certain grotesque figures had been 

 painted. A sampler was duly preserved in its gilt 

 frame, stating that it hacfbeen worked by Betty 

 Wagstaffe some fifty years ago. There was also the 

 print of a fat ox, an oval glass adorned by many a 

 peacock's feather, and a vile daub of our fat host in 

 his Sunday's dress. All these are still fresh in my 

 recollection, together with an old yellow faced clock 

 at the further end of the room, which Dawson was 

 apt to put back as the evening advanced. How well 

 also do I remember the rubber of long whist played 

 on a ricketty table, with a coarse, rough, green 

 baize cloth thrown over it, which was for ever 

 changing its position. While Dr. Aston and our 



