THE VALE OF GALA. 33 



And she'd spin me a line of that stuff light and airy, 

 That over her bower the gossamer flings. 



Oh ! then for the trout so watchful and wary ! 

 Each summer-day's ramble a basketful brings : 



I'd be an Angler in league with a fairy, 



And lodge in a bower where the sweet linnet sings. 



But were this denied me, and each finny rover 



Were shy as a maiden when lovers draw near, 

 Surely 'tis better, ere life's dream is over, 



To angle in hope, tho' hope disappear. 

 Oh ! Winter will come, and too soon discover 



That Angling, like life, must draw to a close ; 

 But who would not Angle on, just like a lover, 



And heed not the thorn when in view of the rose. 



Xow, although all this water is good for both 

 trout and salmon fishing with the rod, for I 

 never saw a net or coble above Kelso, yet it 

 is not so well adapted for the spawning of 

 salmon, as those fine streams with small round 

 gravel bottoms, which lie from four to ten miles 

 above. There are some fine streams between 

 Innerleithen and Peebles; and, on a space of 

 water, say a distance of one mile, I have counted, 

 on one side alone, ten or twelve redds. To 

 those who know little of this most interesting 

 part of natural history, I would wish to explain, 



