54 TROUT FISHING 



becoming lively and animated by the presence 

 and voice of woodlark and other innumerable 

 small birds of merry, cheerful voice, though less 

 musical perhaps in note. We have lost the cold 

 blast of winter, and a deliciously soothing, re- 

 freshing, gentle breeze sighs through the branches 

 of the trees, and as it passes, and we hear it 

 higher in the dale, we are reminded that tem- 

 pestuous winter is disappearing, and exhilarating 

 spring is again returning stimulating our hopes 

 of enjoyment of a yet future summer, and leading 

 us to look forward to pleasures and happiness we 

 hope to realize in the yet untried future : we 

 look back on the past as irrecoverable : troubles, 

 cares, disappointments, and sadness are forgotten 

 in our anxious anticipation of a coming season 

 the idea of its novelty, the knowledge of its un- 

 certainty, the hopes of its joys act together on 

 our expectant minds. We mercifully are denied 

 the certainty of a prospective view of future events 

 we are delighted with present blessings, and 

 hope still for future enjoyment, and seductive 

 contemplations, forced upon us by the natural 

 appearance of objects surrounding us, yield to us 

 the greatest) possible delight nature herself 

 seems to be awakening from cold reserve, and 

 throwing aside the chilly slumber of winter, is 

 now preparing with genial freshness for assisting 

 in the necessitous duties of animal life, and con- 

 ducing to the growth and fructification of vege- 

 table life. The commencing season warns the 

 sportsman that a change is taking place the 



