The Most Benevolent of Medicos 



and we had better let him show us. The man, seeing he 

 had an advocate in the enemy's ranks, immediately began to 

 beg, and to state a very piteous case, of which ague and 

 want of money were the principal ingredients. 



Harry had provided himself in England with lots of 

 drugs to physic the barbarians, and here was a case. He 

 immediately jumped off, pulled his medicine stocking out of 

 the alforjas^ and began studying his receipt-book of cottage- 

 physic and cookery. Making a desk of his saddle, he stood 

 turning over the leaves. " How to make suet dumplings ! " 

 that wouldn't do, " A good receipt for brewing beer at 

 threepence a gallon," &c. ; but nothing was said about the 

 proper way of treating tertian ague. Hereupon I was 

 called into consultation, and I su2:2;ested that, " an he had 

 never tasted blue-pill before, it should go near to remove 

 his fit." I So Harry discharged a raking fire of blue-pills 

 upon his patient. 



" But," said the poor man, "I cannot buy your remedies, 

 for I have nothing," and he seemed greatly distressed by 

 the idea of losing these wonderful little bullets, on whose 

 sovereign merits we had been lecturing him. 



" Never mind that," said Harry ; " we require no money 

 from those who have none ; but it is the custom of English 

 professional men to cure everybody who is sick." 



"God will repay your worship, most benevolent of 

 medicos" said the invalid, with a meek and lowly reverence. 



I added two-pence in copper, to give the prescription a 

 flavour of sincerity, for I thought that, perhaps, upon 

 reflection, he might be afraid to take the pills from unknown 

 hands, for fear they might prove poison. The huge blue- 

 pill-box was replaced in the stocking, and we proceeded by 

 the instructions of our patient. It was about two o'clock, 



■ " The Tempest." 



