1829.] - Che Druggisi of Fife. 393 
not, however, long in opening his commission, neither did he appear to 
take Andrew’s inattention at all amiss; he seémed one of those happy 
beings upon whom outward circumstances make little or no impression, 
who could be either civil or otherwise, as should happen to suit his 
humour, and who cared little for any opinion but his own ; his broad 
and ample shoulders, over which was cast a large coachman’s coat, with 
its innumerable capes, with his hands thrust into the pockets, and his 
round, ruddy, good-humoured face showed the cares and troubles of the 
world had made little impression on him. Andrew had seen many a 
wild Highlander in his time ; but either there was something peculiar in 
his customer, or his nerves were a little deranged by his exertions during 
the day, but an undefinable sensation of fear came over him, for which 
he could’ not account, and his first impulse‘ was to run to the door for 
assistance ; but then he bethought himself he may, perchance, fall into 
the hands of some of those night prowlers, who, reports say, make no 
scruple of supplying students with the living subject if they cannot pro- 
eure dead ones. I cannot state this as a fact, but it occurred to Andrew 
he had heard so, and more, did he leave his shop, his till would be left 
to the tender mercies of the stranger ; he was, therefore, compelled to 
summon courage, and demand the stranger’s business. This was not 
so difficult to him, perhaps, as we may imagine, Andrew having for- 
merly served in the militia; but it appeared his fears had alarmed him 
far more than there was any occasion, for, on asking the stranger’s busi- 
ness, he in the most polite manner only requested him to prepare a box 
of moderately strong aperient pills; this at once relieved his fears, 
though it did not entirely remove them, and Andrew quickly set about 
the necessary preliminaries. Blue pill and jalap once more were in 
request, but so much had the stranger’s sudden appearancg agitated him, 
he could not recollect their places so readily as usual, and he was more 
than once on the point of mixing quite the reverse of what he intended ; 
the stranger observed to-him he appeared agitated, but politely begged 
he would wait a little and compose himself, as he was in no hurry ; here 
all Andrew’s fears returned, and in spite of all his efforts his hand shook 
as though he had the palsy, and never had the preparation of a box of 
pills appeared so irksome to him ; it seemed as though the very medicine 
itself had this evening conspired to torment him—three times longer 
than it usually took him had he now been, and though the town clock 
had already told the hour of midnight, still Andrew was at his post, 
grinding and pounding, and often, as he delayed for a moment from 
mere inability to proceed, the stranger politely besought him to rest a few 
minutes and compose himself, and Andrew for very shame, was com- 
pelled to resume his occupation. At length his labours drew to an end, 
and he prepared the label, pasted it on, neatly covered the box with 
blue paper, and presented it to the stranger. 
_ “T will thank you fora glass of water,” said he, as he bowed to 
Andrew, on receiving it, “and I see, Sir, you have given me a smartish 
dose. < All these pills to be taken at bed time,’ but so much the better, 
they will perform their required duty sooner. I have, ere now, mastered 
aleg of mutton: and some writers affirm the human stomach can digest 
a tenpenny nail, so here goes.” 
It was in vain Andrew assured him he had made a mistake in the 
directions, and that one pill was sufficient ; in vain he remonstrated with 
him on the danger of taking a larger dose ; pill after pill disappeared 
M.M. New Series.—Vou. VII. No. 40. Z8E 
