CALAMITIES OF LIVING MEN OF GENIUS. 219 



hour passed, but Spencer came not ; so Mrs. Brooks becoming im- 

 patient, rung for the servant. 



" Have you informed Mr. Spencer that dinner has been waiting ?" 



" O yes, ma'am I called him but I suppose he has fallen off to 

 sleep again." 



" To sleep again ! What does the fool mean ?" said Brooks impa- 

 tiently. 



" I mean nothing more than the truth, sir ; and I did not know 

 that it was any secret," said the girl, pettishly. 



" Well, what is it, girl what is it ?" said Brooks, gathering anger 

 with every word. 



" Why, sir, I dare say, Mr. Spencer is in bed and asleep, as he is 

 every day of his life, from breakfast till dinner \" 



Brooks looked at his wife aghast, and she returned his astonished 

 stare. But there must be some mistake ; the fact, as represented, 

 was incredible. Brooks rushed up stairs entered Spencer's room 

 without ceremony and beheld his worst fears confirmed. There 

 lay the poet, snugly coiled up among the bed-clothes no wretath 

 of laurel about his brows, but his head encased in a woollen night- 

 cap. He was wrapped in visions indeed but they were drowsy 

 ones. Brooks cast his eyes about the room, anxious to catch some 

 token of toil none not a line not a scrap not even an ink blot 

 on the floor ! 



The noise made by Brooks on entering, awoke the bard. He 

 opened his dreamy eyes only to encounter those of his incensed and 

 disappointed friend. Explanation there was none apology was 

 useless. It is needless to say further. The man of genius returned 

 once more to his garret, to complain bitterly of the world, and of 

 Brooks in particular. 



A good moral may be found to the above anecdote, in the story of 

 a certain swindling wag, who loved to live at the expence of any 

 body, rather than his own industry ; and in pursuance of such prin- 

 ciple, made his way to the court of an eastern king. " Please your 

 majesty," said he, " I have one of the greatest wonders of the world. 

 It is an ass that I have nearly taught to speak ; but I lack the means 

 to finish. If you would benevolently support me for twelve mouths, 

 the ass would make my fortune." 



" But," inquired the sultan, " what security shall I have of your 

 performing your contract?" 



" Oh, any security your highness pleases," returned the teacher of 



" Well, if you will stake your life in the performance of your con- 

 tract, it shall be as you wish." 



" Gladly !" returned the fearless speculator ; and he was forthwith 

 assigned apartments and attendants. 



About six months passed very pleasantly, when he was visited by 

 one of his former friends, who found him living on the best, and rid- 

 ing on his ass, to give him a lesson. 



" Why, what foolery is this ?" said his friend. " You have staked 

 your life on an impossibility ; and for one poor twelvemonth's food, 

 you will forfeit your existence." 



