Fig. 84. TKIBULUS TEKKEXTKI*. 



DRY FRUITS I. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



IN a certain Grammar School, or rather Lycee, for it 

 was in France, there was a very backward boy whose 

 father dealt in Dry Fruits. When this boy was called 

 a " duffer " by his comrades, he always answered, " I 

 don't care, I'm clever enough for the Dry Fruit busi- 

 ness." When his Latin verses would not scan, and 

 his master explained to him that there was no hope in 

 this world or the next for a boy who makes " false 

 quantities," he thought within himself, " If it comes to 

 the worst, I can fall back upon the Dry Fruit line." 

 And finally, when he failed to pass his examination, 

 and was compelled to go home without that precious 

 little document which the British Passman calls a 

 " Testamur," he exclaimed in the bitterness of his 

 heart, " Tant pis, I shall have to deal in Dry Fruits ! " 

 I know not whether the term is still in vogue, but 

 formerly " Fruit Sec " was said of a person who was 

 not likely to set the Thames on fire. 



Let us go, just for a few moments, into the Dry 

 Fruit line. I do not mean those preserved peaches 

 and candied apricots which we see at the confectioner's. 

 The Dry Fruits I wish to call attention to are very 

 different from these. They have never been imported 



