416 



TIIK MAN WITH THE 



ment so that I shall be nothing out of pocket/' and he chuckled at 

 thought. 



This piece of meanness quite took the poetry out of the man ; and 

 when happening to look back, I saw the female on whom he had 

 bestowed his alms, gazing with glistening eye upon a piece of gold 

 which she held between the shillings in the hand, and heard her 

 exclaim " Oh, father ! I have again seen the good gentleman with 



the " I lost the last words, for crack went the whip, and off we 



started like lightning. 



" With the what?" my curiosity was raised. 



Not long after this the atmosphere darkened, and in a few minutes 

 a copious shower of rain unmercifully descended upon our heads, 

 and as there was not an umbrella amongst us, we were speedily 

 soaked with the exception of the man in canvas, who sat laughing at 

 the rain as in defiance. 



" This may be sport to you, but it is death to us, as the frog says 

 in the fable/' observed the half-pay officer, much annoyed at his ill- 

 timed mirth. 



" I really ask your pardon," returned he, " but it is enough to 

 tickle the diaphragm of an ourang-outang to see yourself, my friend 

 with the snuff-box, and the gentleman in black there, all dripping 

 with wet, when a little common prudence would enable you to walk 

 dry beneath the falls of Niagara. See here, the water runs off me 

 like a duck, on account of the materials I use for clothing. But its 

 all my own invention made of number one canvas, lined with 

 flannel. Capital stuff ! get some and try, but be sure not to ask for 

 number two, if you wish to take care ef number one ha, ha, ha !" and 

 he laughed every now and then at this joke until we changed horses. / 



" Save in appearance, I do not deny the utility of such clothing ; 

 but wherein consists the secret of rendering it so imperious to wet ?" 

 I inquired. 



" In oil of tar," he exclaimed ; " steep number one canvas in that, 

 and you are waterproof for life ; but have a care, all other oils, after 

 a time, evaporate and leave the canvas stiff and h*rsh oil of tar 

 always keeps things pliable. Then for shoes, you should never 

 think of buying that crickity-crackity trash which, for the sake of 

 look, is generally worn. No, no, purchase your own leather, as I * 

 do ; not blacked, but tanned the black they use rots the leather ' 

 prepare it with oil of tar ; and when you want it made up, have it 

 done under your own nose, or the thief of a cobbler will humbug 

 you most barbarously. Make him put two solid soles, and not cram 

 any d d rubbish in to bulge them out and soak up the water. 

 Here, look at these, I had them made on purpose for hard weather ; 

 they'll never wear out ; I can't live long enough to wear them out; 

 had Adam worn these, and had existed till now, he couldn't have v 

 worn them out !" 



A short time after this dissertation on leather the sun once more 

 peeped upon us, and drove away the angry clouds with their liquid 

 burdens. The weather is an inexhaustible topic, and v/e had each 

 something to say on the change. 



