22 8 MEN OF MY TIME. 



have said. The man in his bewilderment looked at 

 Mr. Wreford, who blandly explained : 



' In eating small birds like these, waiter, I generally 

 eat them bones and all.' 



His simple habits and preference of comfort to 

 ostentation were, of course, displayed in his home. He 

 used to have his fried bacon and potatoes served from 

 the frying-pan, which stood on the hob of the fire- 

 place in his breakfast-room, on to a nice hot plate. 

 On one occasion a friend partaking of this early meal, 

 whose appetite had been sharpened by a long ride, in 

 his hurry to appease his hunger scalded his mouth 

 by hasty indiscretion. The burned visitor was ex- 

 tremely savage at this, and said he ought to have 

 been reminded of it. 



' No,' replied the host. ' If you had been told of 

 it you would have done so the next time ; and it is far 

 better to learn a lesson of a friend that will never 

 be forgotten, than elsewhere at the expense of 



strangers. 



I don't doubt the story is true ; but it has a great 

 resemblance to another one I have heard. A little 

 boy was eating some very hot pudding, which brought 

 tears into his tender eyes. His grandfather, seeing 

 this, compassionately asked the reason ; and being- 

 told that it was because it was the anniversary of his 

 grandmother's burial, was satisfied, and incautiously 

 turned to eat his own portion, and, burning himself 

 severely, in his pain cried out : 



