118 THE TROUT ARE RISING 
though an old bachelor, is very human (between 
ourselves, I might even say susceptible). ‘ What 
makes you think that ?”’ he smilingly asked. 
“Oh,” said the little lady, “ we've just come 
from Russia, and they all wear coats like that !” 
Very pleasing are the friendly approaches of 
childhood. The world would be drear without 
them. It reminded me of a little memory 
cherished for many years. Ai little maid of some 
five summers one wintry Sunday afternoon was 
carrying and nursing a huge Teddy bear, almost 
as big as herself. I could not but admire the 
little fairy, all in woolly white, so devoted to her 
charge. She evidently caught my eye as it 
wandered from her to Teddy. She advanced 
toward me, and with great gravity gave me a 
piece of information. “ J?’s the first time he’s been 
out /”” she said, 
The fishing to which we were making lay 
beyond Mortimer’s Cross, and the journey was 
delightful. People are apt to say of their country- 
side, “ You should see it in the Spring!” But 
strangers may be quite content to see Hereford- 
shire on a sparkling, frosty day in mid-November, 
We passed through such pretty hamlets as you 
will only find in rural England and noted many 
beauties. One building especially interested us. 
It was the school at Lucton to which “The 
Amateur Angler” went as a boy. Few writers 
have given more pleasure to angling readers than 
the late Mr. Edward Marston, who as “ The 
Amateur Angler” described his fishing adventures 
