210 FISHING GOSSIP. 



them, in fact, except on certain days what is to be 

 done ? So Mr. Allies, poor man, finds himself between 

 Scylla and Charybdis the " carpet-bag on one side, 

 and the tongs on the other " and in his agony he 

 cries aloud, " Don't ! oh, let me beseech you, don't, 

 kind anglers, buy my grasshoppers, they are only 6s. 

 the half-dozen, trace and all, and they are so deadly ! 

 Do not encourage them, dear gentlemen, I say do not !" 



Unfortunate but noble Allies ! Can any one for 

 the life of him help recalling that immortal scene in 

 "Pickwick" where the persecuted Mr. Winkle is 

 endeavouring to touch the obtuse feelings of his about- 

 to-be second, Mr. Snodgrass ? " Snodgrass," said Mr. 

 Winkle, stopping suddenly, " Snodgrass, do not let me 

 be baulked in this matter do not give information 

 to the local authorities do not obtain the assistance 

 of several peace officers, to take either me or Dr. 

 Slammer, of the 97th Eegiment, at present quartered 

 in Chatham Barracks, into custody, and thus prevent 

 this duel ; I say, do not ! . . . ." 



What a sell it would be for the grasshoppers if 

 the angling Snodgrasses, like their prototype, meta- 

 phorically seizing the hand of the wretched Allies, 

 were to reply to his adjuration "Not for worlds !" 



We will not indulge ourselves by criticising in 

 limine Mr. Allies' rhetorical effort ; nay, so self- 

 denying are we, that though sorely tempted, we will 

 not even pick out a few of the plums for our own 



