80 THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 



any patience to spare. Perch are found, more 

 or less, in most rivers, and in some ponds and 

 still waters they are very abundant. We shall 

 conclude our chapter with two or three verses, 

 narrating an incident respecting a perch, which 

 occurred with us some twenty years back : 



THE PERCH, AND HIS FATE. 



One day an anxious angler plied 

 His art within the pearly tide, 



To catch some roach and dace ; 

 With line of hair, and tiny hook, 

 And gentles white, he numbers took, 



With decent skill and grace. 



Just then a perch, not quite a pound, 

 Was lurking in the sedges round, 



And felt inclined for food ; 

 And as the angler rose a dace, 

 He seized it straight before his face 



In really perch-like mood. 



The angler look'd, the perch held tight, 

 The scales came off the dace, and bright 



They sparkled in the stream ; 

 And pouch'd his body would have been 

 Had not the angler danger seen, 



And spoil'd the gluttonous dream. 



The dace rescued, down went the perch, 

 But only in his haunt to lurch 



'Till he again could prey; 

 The angler plied again his skill, 

 Intent his basket's void to fill, 



Forgetful of the fray. 



