136 How I Became a Sportsman. 



sanctimonious old grocer, of whom is told a 

 good story. He was very old and very white, 

 for he had a white head of short stubby hair, 

 always wore a white apron and white cotton 

 stockings, which incased very small spindle- 

 shanked legs ; he had small, sharp, restless 

 eyes, and a nose almost as long as one of his 

 legs ; he always looked as if he was minding 

 some one else's business besides his own. He 

 looked so sharp and keen, he put me in mind 

 of a white jackdaw. Just as he was closing 

 his shutters for the night, previous to shutting 

 up his shop, the following conversation was 

 overheard. 



"Emanuel," called the old man. 



" Yes, father." 



" Have you sanded the sugar ? " 



" Yes, father." 



"Ebenezer." 



"Yes, father." 



" Have you watered the tobacco ? " 



" Yes, father." 



" Then come in to prayers." 



Now, I fancy that this must have been the 

 very shop where Ben got his tobacco, which 

 would account for the difficulty in getting a 



