FIRST DAY. 27 



Thus the pure Anglo-Saxon " ael," for alt, 

 is still found from north to south ; but in 

 the counties south of the Avon it is less 

 frequent, and only heard among those who 

 adhere to and use the " owld taak," as 

 they term it. But if you encourage me 

 in these etymological reveries, you '11 lose 

 some fine fish, and this is a morning which 

 the angler ought not to neglect. Let us 

 go and look after Simon^s " two or dree 

 girt uns down yander." A good trout 

 generally lies under the roots of that pol- 

 lard-willow : I took one there last season 

 which weighed nearly four pounds, and I 

 warrant you another is, by this time, wait- 

 ing his turn, though I cannot promise that 

 he will be as big or as well fed. 



J. I shall be content with one of half 

 that weight. 



S. I remember, some years since, when 

 near this spot, running to the rescue of an 

 elderly gentleman, who had hooked and 



