Annals of a Fishing Village

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIII. IN CONCLUSION. All pleasant things come to an end, however--perhaps it is owing to this fact that they seem so very pleasant to us, often; and Den had to turn his back on fun and frolic and the joys of renewed friendships, and to return to his work among Surrey hills and woods. "Good-bye, Den, prosperity go with you!" said Larry, as the pair, so strongly united both by the ties of relationship and their mutual love of nature, grasped each other's hands. "Come back soon; that heron will remain where it is as long as we live, but I need no reminder of you, old fellow. When you come next, bring your wife with you; you are not the sort to go through life long alone." It was, as Larry predicted, not long before Denzil married, and his choice proved a very happy one. He married, as his father did before him, "to please himself," and his wife was one who could not only understand and sympathise with him in his tastes, but who was as fond of the creatures as he was himself. When he saw her surrounded by the wild things he brought home with him, the reserved, self-contained lines of his face would relax and soften, and he looked, what he called himself, "well content." To her, he always said, he owed the development of the better part of his nature; she was his best friend as well as his wife. To her alone he fully unbent, and he gave her his perfect confidence. She was well worthy of it, too, as all his friends knew. After the day's toil, with pen and pencil, he continued the studies of his youth; and all his leisure time was devoted to one purpose--namely, the endeavour to know and understand the creatures that our Father above has created to share His beautiful world with ourselves. THE END. PRINTED BV WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND...