32 THE VALE OF GALA. 



or company of gentlemen meet for fishing and 

 shooting ; and, as it is expressed by one of them, 

 4 Here kindred spirits resort.' They have now 

 a long stretch of water, extending from Thorn i- 

 lee to Ettrick foot, and much amusing and in- 

 telligent conversation have I enjoyed at their 

 hospitable table, some of their members being 

 much skilled in Tweed fishing matters. (See 

 Mr Russell's examination on the last Tweed 

 Bill). They have lately printed a limited number 

 of a small volume of songs or happy memories, 

 which contains some pretty engravings by 

 Forrest, of the different places of interest ad- 

 jacent to their fishings, and I will end this short 

 sketch, with extracting one which I think good, 

 and it is, no doubt, the index of a fine mind. 



I'd be an Angler, born near a river, 



Nightly its murmurs would lull me asleep ; 

 Daily its banks I'd be roving for ever, 



Enticing the bright ones that gleam in the deep. 

 I'd never care for city-bred pleasures, 



Seeking for mine where the gentle waves leap : 

 I'd be an Angler, watching my treasures, 



The sportive and bright ones that gleam in the deep. 



My magical wand would be gift of a fairy, 



Her's, too, my hooks with their beautiful wings ; 



