LETTER XLVII, 



A TALE OF TOUTH. 



I WILL tell you what a large pltim-tree which shades a 

 comer of my favourite grass-plat reminds me of; it is a tale 

 of my youth. 



As I had, what is called, gon6 through my studies with 

 credit ; that is to say, as I was acquainted with Latin, and 

 could manage a little Greek, I was very much embarrassed to 

 find an honest means of gaining my living. 



Whilst in the embarrassment of this diflS.oulty, I one day met 

 a man in the street, who accosted me by holding out his hand 

 to me. I did not at first recognise himj but at all events 

 it was a mark of kindness, and I gave him my hand, which 

 lie shook cordially. He had been, in the college at which 

 I had studied, what is called a yard dog; that is to say, 

 guardian over pur recreations, positive and negative — ^recrea- 



