THE BANKS OF THE TEST. Ill 



the ' song of early birds/ the beauties which Flora 

 now begins to disclose, the revival of all nature teem- 

 ing with joy and harmony, have inexpressible charms 

 for me. The very insects which are bursting into 

 a new life, the fresh and tender leaf with its cheerful 

 verdure, and the kindly influence of the sun, all 

 these add to the pleasures of spring, and enable 

 me to contemplate nature with satisfaction and 

 delight. 



* Here the wing'd people of the sky shall sing 

 ' Their cheerful anthems to the gladsome spring.' 



It was on such a morning that we rolled rapidly 

 along to the place of our destination, a small country 

 inn, or rather ale-house, near the banks of the river 

 Test in Hampshire, where I had received permis- 

 sion to fish in a preserve belonging to Mr. Peebles, 

 who shall be presently introduced to my readers. 

 Those only who are acquainted with the locale of 

 old Test can form an idea of its various charms as 

 a fishing station. The little inn we put up at was 

 as perfect in its way as the neighbouring stream. 

 We had visited it on a former occasion, and were 

 now welcomed by the antient hostess and her grand- 

 daughter as old friends. We had previously an- 

 nounced our intended arrival and found every thing 

 ready for our reception. There is something inex- 

 pressibly pleasing in the first arrival at a place of 

 this sort. It had formed much of our conversation 



