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important items in human life. In the piscatory writings 

 of England, we have a great variety of productions of this 

 stamp ; a few of which taken at random from our own 

 collection, we shall here lay before the reader : 



" THE FLY AND TROUT. 



As near yon stream, the other day, 

 Sooth' d by the murmuring current's play, 



I thoughtless stroll'd along, 

 Behold, of largest growth a fly 

 Adown the stream came glist'ning by, 



The smallest flies among. 



In sportive air it spread the sail, 

 And o'er the rest the flying gale 



It caught with seeming pride ; 

 Swiftly it skims the crystal waves, 

 Now in the purling eddy laves, 



More smoothly now it glides. 



What joy, it said, or seem'd to say, 

 Thus on the sparkling stream to play, 



And quit the fields of air ; 

 How dull ! because on wings they rise, 

 Is yonder crowd of vulgar flies, 



To float for ever there. 



Still let timid, sordid crew, 



The same old beaten track pursue j 



Nor tempt one new delight : 

 I dare to live to live I know, 

 And grasp at every joy below, 



No fancied ills affright. 



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