AN AUTHOR'S RENT-DAY. 



MY lodging is not in the most fashionable part of town, as it ap- 

 proximates much more closely to Fleet Street, than Mr. Croker would 

 deem desirable ; yet I have a partiality for it, because it was in it that 

 I located on my first arrival from the country ; and it is, moreover, in 

 the neighbourhood of some chosen friends, who, after evidencing 

 their capabilities in truly English fashion, by a quarterly display of 

 their appetites, had been deemed worthy to be permitted to advocate 

 and defend his Majesty's lieges. My landlady, from long intimacy, 

 has for many years regarded me as a familiar, and has frequently 

 made me the depository of her confidence. On the occasion of the 

 stay I am speaking of, she had been complaining to me of the pecu- 

 niary irregularities of one of her lodgers, a young gentleman, who had 

 adventured upon the perilous trade of authorship, and who seemed to 

 be sharing plentifully the most usual earnings of his calling. 



" Seven weeks' rent of that handsome airy attic due, Sir," said Mrs. 

 Jones, " and nothing but promises, for he's mighty fair spoken ; but 

 fine words don't butter no bread, you know, Sir, as my old man, poor 

 dear soul, used to say. T'other day, that's a week ago, says he to me, 

 says he, ' Mrs. Jones, I expects daily to see a relation, what will put 

 me in a way to settle with you ;' and more nor that, says he, ' Mrs. 

 Jones, I've just got a play nigh ready, as is to be acted at Drury 

 Lane, and I expects a hundred pounds for it ;' and then you know, 

 Sir, when this here hundred pounds comes, I'm to be paid, supposing 

 this here relation don't give him the money ? But I an't got much 

 faith in any thing as depends on the players." 



" Well, but, Mrs. Jones," I said " this young gentleman is very 

 young, and money you know, is very scarce in all quarters ; his repre- 

 sentations, probably, are true, and yet he may be pushed for cash ; 

 in the mean time I am sure it is not your disposition to be harsh 

 with any body suppose you try another week, and see what 

 patience will do." 



" Ah !" replied Mrs. Jones, " that's exactly what he says; but, as I 

 said afore, you know, Sir, ' Patience don't butter no bread no more 

 nor fair words does,' as my poor old man used to say ; but howsom- 

 ever, Sir, as you advises it, I'll wait another week ; it an't in my nature 

 to hurt nobody ; but then I'm a lone widdy 'oman, and I don't like to 

 be taken advantage of." 



" Certainly not, Mrs. Jones," I said ; " but, however, you'll see 

 what the next week will do, and, I hope, it will favour both you and 

 the young gentleman." 



tf Well, Sir," ans veered Mrs. Jones ; " I'll tell him in the morning, 

 as I'll wait another week, and no longer nor I won't, neither, Sir ;" 

 and after taking a thimble-full of whiskey, the old lady left me, 

 happy to think that I had won a respite for my fellow-lodger. 



In the morning Mrs. Jones informed me that she had intimated to 

 her attic friend the determination she had come to, and I heard no 

 more of the affair until a week afterwards. I had been out late, and 

 came in about five in the morning. As I was entering my bed-room, 



