MY FIRST TROUT 25 



frenzy of excitement I threw down my rod, 

 seized the line and pulled with my hands. 

 There was a commotion and the cast broke, 

 just above the tail-fly. 



In the light of the experience of after years 

 I should say that I thereby lost a sewin of about 

 two pounds weight, freshly up from the sea. 



Tired out in body, but exultantly happy, 

 I found my way home to tea, stopping twice 

 by the way to take the trout one by one out 

 of the basket and lay them on the dusty road- 

 side grass. I washed them carefully at the 

 scullery tap, and then the final triumph, as 

 they lay on a big dish, nearly slithering off it 

 as I carried them to the study for my old uncle's 

 inspection the biggest carefully arranged to 

 show up, and, in the place of honour, on the 

 top of all, my first trout. 



