1897. 

 XXIX. RATHER POETICAL. 



A CCORDING to their previously announced intentions 

 f~\ McNab and Mazawattee took their departure on 

 Saturday afternoon amidst the regretful tears of 

 Polly and other tender-hearted damsels. Mazawattee must be 

 acquitted of being in any way the cause of this display of the 

 tender but briny emotions, so the less said about McNab the 

 better. It is a wonder those two old practised anglers had not 

 wept at their lack of sport during the week, but even Mr. 

 Hopper can't make fish bite if they won't. As his mates had 

 taken their departure in silent disgust Mr. Hopper was thrown 

 on his own resources, so, as barbel and bream seemed to be 

 dead off, he thought that roach might be more kindly disposed. 

 He was not, however, very sanguine, as the heat had been 

 very intense all through the week. Sunday being the next day 

 Mr. Hopper had plenty of time for quiet thought and planning 

 out his fishing arrangements, subject of course to any vagaries 

 the weather might feel disposed to show, and, sure enough, the 

 change came at noon on that day of rest in the shape of 

 torrents of rain which descended without intermission until 

 nearly six in the evening, then it cleared up just in time for 

 Mr. Hopper to go to church and hear the Fledboro' parson 

 preach, the latter taking duty during the three weeks' absence 

 of the village parson. Mr. Hopper jun. had ridden home in 

 the morning with the view of going on the morrow to Louth 

 sports, whence he purposed returning on Tuesday. The river 

 rose several inches in consequence of Sunday's rain, but on 

 Monday the river was in fair fishing condition. Overnight 

 Mr. Hopper had retired in good time, and during his dreams 

 verified the truth of the old lines 



" Sleeping we imagine what awake we wish ; 

 Dogs dream of bones, and fishermen of fish." 



If Mr. Hopper's dreams had been realised some veritable 

 pluggers would have been removed from their lurking retreats 

 in the Trent, but dreams don't as a rule come true. However, 



