THE OYSTER AND THE DOCTOR. 319 



unhappy tempered man, becomes a pleasant and joyous 

 companion, full of life himself, and inspiriting to those 

 around him. 



In endeavouring to emphasize this fact, and the better 

 to impart to the reader a more desirable appreciation of 

 my subject, I think I cannot do better than here relate the 

 story of 



THE MISER AND THE OYSTERS. 



Many years ago Medford, in the United States, had a 

 far-famed miser as one of its lions. He was a man of 

 ability and rectitude, but a monomaniac where money was 

 concerned. At one time his yearly income was 30,000 

 dollars, and of this he spent as little as would keep soul 

 and body together. Medford was a sort of suburb of 

 Boston, and he lived there to save the city taxes. The 

 two places were connected by a bridge, for crossing which 

 a cent toll was levied on pedestrians. The miser had to 

 go to and from his business in Boston, and his favourite 

 device was to get into some cart with a complaisant driver, 

 and so escape the charge for foot passengers. 



One day, in an early and a genial season, he was 

 returning home, hungry and faint. Dinner in town was 

 expensive, and he usually adjourned the function until he 

 reached his lodgings, where the most frugal fare was in 

 waiting. 



This time he had been delayed, and was feeling and 

 looking extremely ill. No handy cart came by. It was 

 clear that he must pay toll and walk. But his limbs seemed 

 to fail him, and his resolution broke down. An oyster 

 stall was just outside the toll bar, and he was sorely tempted 

 to buy. Strength he must have for his journey. 



