i8qo. 



VI. WlTCHDORTER AND " PELLYLEWS " BoWLINGREEN 



TWYNKLES AND " A DAY'S CHUBBING" MASTER HOPPER'S 



6-LB. BARBEL MR. HOPPER'S S-LB. BARBEL AND Miss 



HOPPER AND THE WORMS AND POULTRY. 



A NY pellylews about here, boy ? " asked an angler a few 

 /\ years ago of a Trent-side yokel. "Oi doant knaw 

 \vhoat thee meerns," replied the rubicund one. And 

 Mr. Hopper doesn't suppose the enquirer or any one else on 

 Trent-side knew what was meant, for pellylews be a " werry 

 scarce animile in this 'ere globe." Mr. Yokel, however, has had 

 his revenge each year since, as " Ony pellylews, maister ? " 

 greets the ear when Mr. Hopper seeks what should be the 

 refreshing and well-earned quiet of the angling retreat so dear 

 to himself and his friend Witchdorter. Imagine the scene 

 Witchdorter half asleep in the boat in a blazing July sun, his 

 pipe-bowl resting between his waistcoat and flannel shirt (the 

 tobacco gently smouldering the latter), and the mouth-piece 

 well lodged in his ear, your humble servant, Mr. Hopper, intent 

 upon his float, when suddenly Mr. Yokel pops his head over 

 the bank and with stentorian lungs roars out, " Ony pellylews, 

 maister ? " Pellylews be blowed, says Mr. Hopper, whilst 

 Witchdorter, roused from his half-somnolent state, lunges out 

 viciously with his left leg and catches Mr. Hopper a severe kick 

 in the small of the back, which applications of Jacob's Oil, 

 Bates' salve, Sequah's rubbing embrocation, arnica, Harness's 

 electric belt, opodeldoc, and other well-known remedies are 

 powerless to cope with. Witchdorter apologises, and explains 

 that he was dreaming he was keeping goal for Grimsby Town 

 against Lincoln City or Blackburn Rovers, and was kicking 

 out of goal. Now, Witchdorter has a foot most of us have 

 two ; but his left foot is a caution when sent out in his own peculiar 

 fashion. Mr. Hopper has the impression of that foot from his 



