20 ANGLING. 



We have many a time and oft in early life (even 

 in maturer manhood), whether in smooth expanded 

 lake, or the still stretches of some goodly river, 

 when a sudden lull of wind has fallen upon the 

 waters, and every grey gigantic stone, or craggy 

 rock, or old fantastic tree with silvery stem, was 

 seen reflected in the liquid mirror ; when radiant 

 clouds of snow reposed their castellated glory 'mid 

 the cerulean depth of the inverted sky (yet gazing 

 with grateful heart on that far beaming splendour, 

 which we almost feared to break by word or motion, 

 and of which ourself, a sinful creature, was momen- 

 tarily made a meet partaker), we have then pro- 

 ceeded with our work, as follows. Instead of drag- 

 ging the cast of flies rapidly and continuously along 

 the surface, as is our wont when breezy winds are 

 blowing, and pool or lake 



With pleasure fills, 

 And dances with the daffodils, 



we throw as long a line as we are able the reader 

 may well suppose it long and allow it to lie for 

 several seconds, as if in grim repose. We then 

 point our top towards the water, lowering it to 

 within a foot or two of the surface, and next with 

 slow but sure alternate jerks, somewhat after the 

 mode of salmon fishing, still keeping the point 

 down, we bring the lure towards us. The entire 

 tackle being under water, no disturbance takes 

 place except the gentle prowing of the line, just 

 where it emerges near the rod ; the flies themselves 

 being far away, and at some depth beneath the sur- 



