AN ASSISTANT’S LUGGAGE. 
on the subject, but always avoided it, there seemed 
to be some mystery in connection with his arrival in 
Ceylon, which was rather a sudden one. Humours and 
reports, which are always sure to have something to say 
on all matters, stated that he had come from some of 
the Indian Presidencies, in order (o get away from 
the unpleasant pending results of some youthful follies 
and indiscretions. But whatever rumour and report 
or the busybodies said were neither affirmed nor contra- 
diciedby Mr. Alexander Sandy, who seemed to treat 
with perfect nonchalance all that was said about him, 
either good, bad, or indifferent. How and by what 
means it came about was ^ quite unknown, but Mr. 
Sandy obtained the ear ” of an agency firm, yHio 
sent him up to an estate as an assistant 'to an up- 
country manager. He was to receive no pay, and 
was topiy for his board, in return for which, it was 
expected that he was. pledged to undergo, for some 
undefined period of time, all the arduous duties of a 
junior assistant. After his introductory preface, it is 
only necessary to state, that Mr, Sandy presented 
himself at his manager’s bungalow, and was duly 
installed in a bedroom 10 feet by 12 which was given 
over for his own private use. 
But, before Mr. Sandy installed himself in his room, 
it was necessary to instal his baggage, of which he 
had an immense quantity. After stowing away any 
number of boxes below the b-M, there were still a 
number left out. So all the furniture was cleared out, 
and trunks put in their places. Two boxes placed in 
the middle of the room, one above the other, served 
as a table, and, in the same way, against the wall, 
forming a very good dressing table, with a small look- 
ing-glass placed on the top. Two single trunks pro- 
jecting from the general pile formed very convenient 
chairs. And thus it was arranged, that while all the 
furniture, with the exception of the bed, was ejected 
from the room, to make room for the luggage, the 
luggage was made to take the place, and answer the 
same purpose as the furniture. It also seemed to 
be useful as taking the place of a door bolt, for 
if Mr. Sandy w’as suddenly wanted to go out, 
especially if it rained heavily, a box would tumble 
down, so that the door could not be opened. 
Very probably, in getting it in its proper place, other 
two would also give way with a crash. So that, if 
time was an object, and anything of importance had 
to be attended to, the manager was fain to leave 
Mr. Sandy and his boxes to settle matters as they could, 
at their own time, seize his hat and umbrella, and' go 
out to the working place himself. On his return, tired, 
wet, and probably irritated, the irritation was not at 
