worm throughout the whole year, no one month excepted."
Precocity does not flourish in Scotland. Never do any thing in a
hurry. In good time for all good purposes of angling,--not too soon,
but not a minute too late, have come our commendations of this
admirable treatise and manual. What does it lack? any thing? no, not
even a "SIMPLE RECIPE FOR COOKING A WHITLING OR GOOD TROUT BY THE
RIVER-SIDE." What a smack there is here of inimitable and beloved
Isaac! But, before we part, Mr Stoddart shall pronounce his benison.
"Angler! that all day long hast wandered by sunny stream,
and heart and hand plied the meditative art--who hast filled
thy pannier brimful of star-sided trout, and with aching
arms, and weary back, and faint wavering step, crossed the
threshold of some cottage inn--a smiling, rural retreat that
starts up when thy wishes are waning into despondency,--how
grateful to thee is the merry song of the frying-pan, strewn
over with the daintiest of thy spoils, and superintended by
a laughter-loving hostess and her blooming image! and thou,
too, slayer of salmon! more matured and fastidious, what
sound when thy reel is at rest, like the bubbling and
frothing of the fish-kettle! what fare more acceptable than
the shoulder-cut, snowed over with curd, of a gallant
sixteen-pounder; and where, in the wide world, is to be
found wholesomer and heartier sauce, to the one as well as
to the other, than a goblet generously mixed of Islay, and
piping hot? Stretch thy hand over thy mercies, and be
thankful."
Indispensable in all time to come, as the very strength and grace of
an angler's Tackle and Equipment in Scotland, must and will be
"STODDART'S ANGLER'S COMPANION."
THE CAXTONS.--PART III.
BOOK II.--CHAPTER I.
It was a beautiful summer afternoon when the coach set me down at my
father's gate. Mrs Primmins herself ran out to welcome me; and I had
scarcely escaped from the warm clasp of her friendly hand, before I
was in the arms of my mother.
As soon as that tenderest of parents was convinced that I was not
famished, seeing that I had dined two hours ago at Dr Herman's, she
led me gently across the garden towards the arbour. "You will find
your father so cheerful," said she, wiping away a tear. "His brother
is with him."
I stopped. _His_ brother! Will the reader believe it?--I had never
heard that he had a brother, so little were family affairs ever
discussed in my hearing.
"_His_ brother!" said I. "Have I then an Uncle Caxton as well as an
Uncle Jack?"
"Yes, my love," said my mother. And then she added, "Your father and
he were not such good friends as they ought to have been, and the
Captain has been abroad. However, thank heaven! they are now quite
reconciled."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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