fectly useless cane, with which (to enhance its value) he assured me he had once kept a large snake at bay! On another occasion, in return for similar professional assistance, he dismissed me without tendering me a fee, or any thing instead of it; but sent for my wife, in the course of the afternoon, and presented her with a hideous little cracked china teapot, the lid fastened with a dingy silver chain, and the lip of the spout bearing evident marks of an ancient compound fracture. He was singularly exact in every thing he did: he paid his rent, for instance, at ten o'clock in the morning every quarter-day, as long as he lived with me.

Such was the man whose assistance I had at last determined to ask. With infinite hesitation and embarrassment I stated my circumstances. He fidgeted sadly, till I concluded, almost inarticulate with agitation, by soliciting the loan of 300l.-offering, at the same time, to deposite with him the lease of my house, as a collateral security for what he might advance me.

66

My God!" he exclaimed, falling back in his chair, and elevating his hands.

"Would you favour me with this sum, Mr. G

I inquired, in a respectful tone.

66

Do you take me, doctor, for a money-lender?" "No, indeed, sir; but for an obliging friend, as well as lodger—if you will allow me the liberty." "Ha! you think me a rich old hunks come from India to fling his gold at every one he sees."

66

May I beg an answer, sir?" said I, after a pause.

"I cannot lend it you, doctor," he replied, calmly, and bowed me to the door. I rushed down stairs, almost gnashing my teeth with fury. The Deity seemed to have marked me with a curse. No one would listen to me!

The next day my rent was due; which, with Mr. G- -'s rent and the savings of excruciating parsi

mony, I contrived to meet. Then came old L- -! Good God! what were my feelings when I saw him hobble up to my door. I civilly assured him, with a quaking heart and ashy cheeks, but with the calmness of despair, that, though it was not convenient to-day, he should have it on the morning of the next day. His greedy, black, Jewish eye seemed to dart into my very soul. He retired, apparently satisfied, and I almost fell down and blessed him on my knees for his forbearance.

It was on Wednesday, two days after Christmas, that my dear Emily came down-stairs after her confinement. Though pale and languid, she looked very lovely, and her fondness for me seemed redoubled. By way of honouring the season, and welcoming my dear wife down-stairs, in spite of my fearful embarrassments, I expended my last guinea in providing a tolerably comfortable dinner, such as I had not sat down to for many a long week. I was determined to cast care aside for one day at least. The little table was set; the small but savoury roast-beef was on; and I was just drawing the cork of a solitary bottle of port, when a heavy knock was heard at the street-door. I almost fainted at the sound, I knew not why. The servant answered the door, and two men entered the very parlour, holding a thin slip of parchment in their hands.

"In God's name, who are you? What brings you here?" while my wife sat silent, trembling, and looking very faint.

"Are you the gentleman that is named here ?" inquired one of the men, in a civil and even compassionate tone, showing me a writ issued against me by old L-, for the money I owed him! My poor wife saw my agitation; and the servant arrived just in time to preserve her from falling, for she had fainted. I had her carried to bed, and was permitted to wait by her bedside for a few moments; when, more dead than alive, I surrendered myself D

into the hands of the officers. I shall never forget that half-hour, if I were to live a thousand years. I felt as if I were stepping into my grave. My heart was utterly withered within me.

A few hours beheld me the sullen and despairing occupant of the back attic of a sponging-house near Leicester-square. The weather was bitterly inclement, yet no fire was allowed one who had not a farthing in his pocket. Had it not been for my poor Emily and my child, I think I should have put an end to my miserable existence; for to prison I must go; there was no miracle to save me; and what was to become of Emily and her little one? Jewels she had none to pawn; my books had nearly all disappeared; the scanty remnants of our furniture were not worth selling. Great God! I was nearly frantic when I thought of all this. I sat up the whole night without fire or candle (for the brutal wretch in whose custody I was, suspected I had money with me and would not part with it), till nearly seven o'clock in the morning, when I sunk in a state of stupor on the bed, and fell asleep. How long I continued so I know not, for I was roused from a dreary dream by some one embracing me, and reiteratedly kissing my lips and forehead. It was my poor Emily, who, at the imminent risk of her life, having found out where I was, had hurried to bring me the news of release; for she had succeeded in obtaining the sum I of 300l. from our lodger, which I had in vain solicited. We returned home immediately. Ihastened up-stairs to our lodger to express the most enthusiastic thanks. He listened without interruption, and then coldly replied, "I would rather have your note of hand, sir!" Almost choked with mortification at receiving such an unfeeling rebuff, I gave him what he asked, expecting nothing more than that he would presently act the part of old L- He did not, however, trouble me.

The few pounds above what was due to our re

lentless creditor L sufficed to meet some of our more pressing exigencies; but as they gradually disappeared, my prospects became darker than ever. The agitation and distress which recent occurrences had occasioned threw my wife into a low, nervous, hysterical state, which added to my misfortunes; and her little infant was sensibly pining away, as if in unconscious sympathy with its wretched parents. Where now were we to look for help? We had a new creditor, to a serious amount, in Mr. G——, our lodger; whatever, therefore, might be the extremity of our distress, applying to him was out of the question; nay, it would be well if he proved a lenient creditor. The hateful annuity was again becoming due. It pressed like an incubus upon us. form of old L-flitted incessantly around us, as though it were a fiend goading us on to destruction. I am sure I must often have raved frightfully in my sleep; for more than once I was waked by my wife clinging to me, and exclaiming, in terrified accents, "Oli, hush, hush, don't for heaven's sake say

SO!"

The

To add to my misery, she and the infant began to keep their bed; and our lodger, whose constitution had been long ago broken up, began to fail rapidly. I was in daily attendance, but of course could not expect a fee, as I was already his debtor to a large amount. I had three patients who paid me regularly, but only one was a daily patient; and I was obliged to lay by, out of these small incomings, a cruel portion to meet my rent and L's annuity. Surely my situation was now like that of the fabled scorpion, surrounded with fiery destruction! Every one in the house, and my few acquaintances without, expressed surprise and commiseration at my wretched appearance. I was worn almost to a skeleton; and when I looked suddenly in the glass, my wan and hollow looks startled me. My fears magnified the illness of my wife; the whole world

seemed melting away from me into gloom and darkness.

My thoughts, I well recollect, seemed to be perpetually occupied with the dreary image of a desolate churchyard, wet and cold with the sleets and storms of winter. Oh that I and my wife and child, I have sometimes madly thought, were sleeping peacefully in our long home! Why were we brought into the world? why did my nature prompt me to seek my present station in society? merely for the purpose of reducing me to the dreadful condition of him of old, whose only consolation from his friends was, "Curse God and die!" What had I done-what had our forefathers done-that Providence should thus come upon us, and thwart us in every thing we attempted?

Fortune, however, at last seemed tired of persecuting me; and my affairs took a favourable turn when most they needed it, and when least I expected it. On what small and insignificant things do our fates depend. Truly,

"There is a tide in the affairs of men,

Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune."

About eight o'clock one evening, in the month of March, I was walking down the Haymarket, as úsual in a very disconsolate mood, in search of some shop where I might execute a small commission for my wife. The whole neighbourhood in front of the Opera-house door exhibited the usual scene of uproar arising from clashing carriages and quarrelsome coachmen. I was standing at the boxdoor, and watching the company descend from their carriages, when a cry was heard from the very centre of the crowd of coaches, "Run for a doctor!" I rushed instantly to the spot, at the peril of my life, announcing my profession. I soon made my way up to the open door of a carriage, from which issued the moanings of a female, evidently in great agony.