210 FISHING GOSSIP. 
them, in fact, except on certain days—what is to be 
done? So Mr, Allies, poor man, finds himself between 
Scylla and Charybdis—the “carpet-bag on one side, 
and the tongs on the other”’—and in his agony he 
cries aloud, “Don’t! oh, let me beseech you, don’t, 
kind anglers, buy my grasshoppers,—they are only 6s. 
the half-dozen, trace and all, and they are so deadly! 
Do not encourage them, dear gentlemen, I say do not !” 
Unfortunate but noble Allies! Can any one for 
the life of him help recalling that immortal scene in 
“Pickwick” where the persecuted Mr. Winkle is 
endeavouring to touch the obtuse feelings of his about- 
to-be second, Mr. Snodgrass ?—“ Snodgrass,” said Mr. 
Winkle, stopping suddenly, “Snodgrass, do not let me 
be baulked in this matter—do not give information. 
to the local authorities—do not obtain the assistance 
of several peace officers, to take either me or Dr. 
Slammer, of the 97th Regiment, at present quartered 
in Chatham Barracks, into custody, and thus prevent 
this duel ;—I say, do not /....” 
What a sell it would be for the grasshoppers if 
the angling Snodgrasses, like their prototype, meta- 
phorically seizing the hand of the wretched Allies, 
were to reply to his adjuration—“ Not for worlds!” 
We will not indulge ourselves by criticising in 
limine Mr, Allies’ rhetorical effort ; nay, so self- 
denying are we, that though sorely tempted, we will 
not even pick out a few of the plums for our own 
