414 THE MAN WITH THE 



2- 

 This face displayed a deal of Pain, 



For it had allowed all its Rig/its; 

 And nothing human did remain ; 



Brandy had drown'd the inward lights. 



3. 

 Unhappy face ! led by the nose, 



From bowl to bowl, from can to can ; 

 Philosophers, learn from its woes 



To know the wrongs and Rights of Man. 



THE MAN WITH THE 



A MYSTERY. 



" All the world's a stage." SHAKPEARE. 



IT was during a whim-prompted love of locomotion that I one 

 morning mounted the Dover coach, and, having secured a comfort- 

 able seat on the roof, I indulged myself with a pinch of Skinner's 

 " 19," and offered the box to a person who sat opposite such being 

 my usual method of introducing myself to strangers. 



*' Not I, sir," said he ; "I never snuff. Thank heaven ! I've no 

 small vices ; I can find other ways to cheat Time's wings of their 

 lead." 



The speaker was a singular looking being, possessed of sharp 

 animated features and a quick dark eye. His attire was strangely 

 fashioned, and consisted of a suit of prepared canvas ; a hat covered 

 with the same ; gloves, of ditto, and a pair of brown shoes armed 

 with double soles. Somewhat disconcerted, I sought for something 

 else to occupy my mind, and soon found it in contemplating the 

 objects around. My companions were, as I afterwards found, a half- 

 pay officer, a methodist parson, who we called the." gentleman in 

 black," and my friend with the canvas coat. Our conversation was 

 at first confined to the localities through which we passed. The Park, 

 the noble hospital of Greenwich, and the majestic silver-bosomed 

 Thames, which sweeps in front, form as varied a series of views as 

 the lovers of the picturesque could well desire ; not to mention the 

 emotions excited by a bird's-eye peep at the glorious edifice the 

 retreat of J^roes bringing to mind a thousand glorious deeds of old, 

 with a thousand tales of peaceful security in recompense. The gen- 

 tleman with the canvas clothes gave utterance to his thoughts on the 

 subject in language which astonished me. It was really eloquent. 



" ' Cheat Time's wings of their lead!' you would rob his glass of 

 half its sand," exclaimed the officer, who was evidently an enthusiast, 

 and had been considerably amused by the traveller previous to my 

 accession to the party. 



" Nay, I would rather add to the quantity ; but then it should be 

 dust of gold, to glitter as it went !" said he of the canvas. The 

 superiority of his address and conversation over his appearance in- 



