282 THE COUNTRY CLERGYMAN. 



' At eve, when twilight shades prevail, 

 ' Try the hackle white and snail ; 

 ' Be mindful, aye, your fly to throw 

 Light as falls the flaky snow.' 



As the weather was now favourable, and the 

 trout abundant, and feeding in every direction, the 

 metropolitan novices contrived, with a few hints 

 Dr. Hastings had given them, to take several trout, 

 to their great content. Mr. Eames was the first to 

 put down his rod, and having done so, he reclined 

 listlessly under a tree on the banks of the stream. 

 Enjoying, as he had been doing, his first visit in 

 the country, and viewing with pleasure the tranquil 

 scene around him, and perhaps reflecting on the fate 

 of those beautiful ephemera which he had been so 

 recently admiring, some poetic ideas presented them- 

 selves to his mind, which, before the next morning, 

 assumed the shape of the following stanzas : 

 THE RIVER-FLY. 



Fly ! disporting in the shade, 

 Wert thou for the angler made ? 

 To grace his hook ? Is this thy fate ? 

 And be some greedy fish's bait. 



Fly aloft on gladsome wing, 

 See ! one comes with eager spring ; 

 He'll dip thee far beneath the wave, 

 And doom thee to a watery grave. 



Ah ! I would not see thee die, 

 Littk anxious, restless Fly ! 

 Thou'st sooth'd me in my hour of pain, 

 I fain would hear thy song again. 



