THE MAN WITH THE . 421 



" Tell your .master I want him," cried the other. 



" Tell my master, eh ? Oh yes, I should'nt wonder more like 

 you wants the constable else he wants you ; no, no," said the 

 porter, as he scanned the inquirer's habiliments. 



a You are a queer chap, however," retorted the patronizer of oil of 

 tar, pushing the door-opener aside and entering without ceremony. 

 At this moment, Mr. Takefee, finding his Esculapian studies inter- 

 rupted in so unusual a manner, stepped out to demand the cause, 

 Our knight in canvas armour, no sooner saw him than he pounced 

 upon him, and exclaimed, " Come here, you sir ; I want you." 



" Insolent " cried Takefee ; but ere another word could escape 

 the orifice which his crotaphites had opened, his unceremonious 

 visitor clapped something in his hand, and exclaimed : " Pugh ! 

 don't talk, but come along with me time is precious never mind 

 your hat come along ! " All this time the voluble speaker was pro- 

 ceeding towards the cottage, dragging the man of Galen with him, 

 although I noticed that he made little or no resistance, and even 

 smiled with an air of strong satisfaction. 



After feeling his patient's pulse, the physician put us all in high 

 spirits by saying that anxiety and too sudden a deprivation of the 

 comforts of life was Mary's chief complaint, and that with a warm 

 bed, nourishing food, and a little soothing medicine, he would under- 

 take to restore her in a few weeks. Upon this, the man in canvas 

 rubbed his hands with great glee, said " Thank'ye, doctor ; attend 

 well to the medical department of the case, and I will look to the 

 rest ; you may go now ; call again to-morrow, and each succeeding 



day till she is well ; Mr. will always have your fee ready. 



Good morning." Takefee backed out, as if he was leaving the pre- 

 sence of a potentate. He then wrote a brief note, and directed it to 

 a London banker, and presented it to the widow. I would have given 

 a day's existence for a glance at the signature ; but this was rendered 

 impossible by the sudden motion with which she, after its perusal, 

 thrust it in her bosom, and then clasping her hands, exclaimed, " Oh, 

 sir, is it to you I am indebted ? you, the patron of literature the 

 lasher of vice the" 



" Inventor of oil of tar everlastings ! But, pshaw ! what nonsense 

 this is ; why d'ye stand calling me names in this manner ? " 



During this, the widow had flown to her daughter and whispered 

 something which caused as bright a glow of gratitude to irradiate 

 the latter's cheek as I had ever seen. 



" May your MASTER bless and acknowledge you," she said, in a 

 peculiarly melodious tone of solemnity, and raising her lustrous eyes, 

 now lambent with excited feelings, she added, " My father owed all 

 his success to you ; his daughter shall prove her gratitude." 



" What a lot of howling is here about nothing," cried the man in 

 canvas, rather impatiently. " Why don't you do as I bid you ?" 

 added he, addressing the widow. 



" Shall I mention your name, sir," inquired she, drying up her 

 tears. 



" No ; merely say that you were sent by the Man with the 



Or, stay, I cannot await your return, so will order the things myself, 



