194 MEMOIR OF 



blacksmith, who, coming out of his forge, begged 

 his advice under the following circumstances : 

 "If you please, Mr. Russell," he said, "here's a 

 gipsy who wants to buy my black mare ; but he 

 has no money in his pocket, and wants me to 

 trust him. Now, I can't afford to part with her 

 and lose the money; so what had I better do?" 



The gipsy was standing by at the time ; 

 and, as Russell fixed his gaze upon the open 

 and manly face of the swarthy young fellow, he 

 felt convinced by its expression that his pur- 

 pose was an honest one, and strong in that 

 conviction, he asked him his name, putting a 

 further question or two to him before he gave 

 the blacksmith an answer. 



On hearing his name, Russell said " Then 

 you are the man who was encamped last year 

 with your wife near Iddesleigh, soon after vour 

 marriage ? " 



" No, sir ; that was my brother." 



"If I pass my word for the money, will 

 you pay it ? " 



"Yes, sir, I will," he replied unhesitatingly. 



"Then," said Russell, turning to the black- 

 smith, " you may look to me for the money ; 

 if he don't pay you, I will." 



The blacksmith appeared satisfied ; but still 

 anxious to clench the nail properly, he warned 

 Russell that he certainly should come upon him 

 if the gipsy failed to keep his word. 



