106 EASY-CHAIR MEMORIES 



It is an interesting circumstance that almost 

 accidentally the actual reel (or " pirn," as he 

 called it) used by the Ettrick Shepherd has 

 fallen into our hands. The reel itself has 

 nothing of special character about it, but the 

 simple fact that it is the identical reel once 

 used by " The Shepherd," and was talked about 

 in that wonderful comedy of the " Noctes," 

 throws a real halo of romance about it. Its 

 story is well authenticated, as I shall show. 



THE STORY OF THE SHEPHERD'S SLATE 



But before giving the story of the reel I must 

 give the story of the Ettrick Shepherd's slate, 

 as that leads up to it : 



An angler had recommended the present 

 owner of the fishing reel used by James Hogg 

 to communicate with the editor of the Fishing 

 Gazette about it, and, needless to say, he was 

 delighted to have an opportunity of seeing the 

 very reel that was used by the hand which 

 wrote so many charming songs and ballads. 

 The present owner, who received it from his 

 uncle, in sending the reel sent with it an old 

 manuscript which he found among his uncle's 

 papers referring to it, and also to the famous 



