made one minute before that hour, being thereby enabled to save six pence. The charioteer interfered by saying he admitted it was a minute or two before twelve when the order came, but the clock had struck before he had "turned out," and he was therefore entitled to night fare. A rejoinder from Old Hawk followed, accompanied by a recommendation from the landlord to compromise the matter, as it seemed to involve a point of law, and after some controversy it was agreed that the contending parties should split the difference between them, and leave the sum to be paid one and three pence, instead of one and six pence. Tim and his master entered the chariot, and on their arrival at home he seemed to have become perfectly sober.

They discharged their charioteer, and entered their cheerless dwelling, which gave no signs of life, except the chirping of a swarm of crickets, that occupied the ground floor when all other company were absent. Old Shue had gone to bed, the fire was out, and blind Tim was obliged to go to a neighbouring watchhouse to light a candle. On his return, Old Hawk took him into the parlour, which served the treble purpose of office, bed-room, and sitting-room; near the window was a strong oak desk with an iron railing round it, opposite which was a safe built into the wall; at the other end was a cupboard or press which served to hold the scanty viands and table ware with which the house was supplied; behind the door was a huge clock in an oaken case as large as a sentry box, which had stood there for a couple of generations, and whose loud and healthy stroke gave promise that it would continue to vibrate long after many a human heart, bent on worldly gain, and fraught with plans calculated to oppress or deceive their fellow-man, had mouldered into dust. In another part of the room was a press-bed, which turned up into a niche in the wall; there were a few oak chairs and two small tables of the same material, which completed the entire furniture of Old Hawk's state apartment.

When Tim entered with the candle, his master sent him in search of old Shue's firewood, and, after lighting a fire, he sat down, and they drew their chairs together. There are moments when the man who makes himself the outcast of society by his inordinate thirst for gold and the sordid practices which he adopts in pursuit of it, feels that he is alone in the world, and that amongst the sons of men there is hardly one with whom he can reciprocate one kindly feeling, or in whom he can confide either in the hour of success or of sorrow; and that if there be one such friend, it is an old and faithful servant, who has entered into the feelings of his master, and becomes reconciled to his habits and his eccentricities. Tim was one of those faithful domestics, whose nature it was to be attached to any person or thing with which he was connected, and was, in point of fact, as fond of the

old horses as he was of his master, and any esteem he might have to spare for a third object was given to old Shue. He was paid his board wages to the hour, and his standing wages was put to interest, which was paid quarterly and added to the principal, so that by careful management, under the direction of his master, he had amassed some money. The master was, besides, naturally quiet in his disposition, and never found fault with any thing, provided he was successful in his money getting pursuits, which was most generally the case; so that Tim's situation was after all as agreeable as that of a man serving a titled master with a splendid equipage and a numerous retinue of servants. There was therefore a reciprocity of feeling between them, that, alas ! seldom exists between master and servant.

"Tim," said Old Hawk, as the billets of wood that had been lighted blazed up briskly, "hand me the bottle of wine that is in the safe; I was made a present of a dozen by Mr. Jolly, for whom I cashed a small bill; we will take a glass before we go to rest: I want to tell you something of my great success to-day, and of my future intentions and prospects."

Tim complied, and, having uncorked the bottle, sat down opposite his master: the wood fire burned cheerfully in the rusty grate, and gave an appearance of comfort to the apartment which it had rarely worn.

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Tim," continued Old Hawk, " put out that candle, the fire blazes so prettily that I think the candle light only spoils the effect of it; and besides, conversation is always pleasanter by a cheerful fire than if the room was completely illuminated."

"Why," said Tim, "that's just what I was thinking, and I was really going to put it out before you spoke."

"Ah," replied the master, "you are just what I always found you to be, a faithful and considerate servant; I would hardly have got on in this world and these hard times without such a friend, and in return for your fidelity I will tell you a good deal about my affairs."

"Very well," said Tim, "nothing can give me greater satisfaction than to hear about my master and all that concerns him. I have no other friend after all but you, and I would be the most ungrateful man upon earth if I did not take great interest in your

Old Hawk then proceeded: "Yes, Tim, I tell you, that I know what you say is true, and you being worthy of my confidence, I have now to inform you that I am about being married, that is, I have made up my mind about the matter, and I hope you shall in a few days have a mistress; but let me tell you first what I have done this day, or rather what good fortune has befallen me. Whilst I was in the bank this morning I heard the glorious news that the father of young Lord Flareaway, from whom I got

the post obit about ten days ago, had just dropped dead in a fit of apoplexy: he had been one of a large dinner party at Bishop Bloater's, and spoiled the fun and feeding by dropping dead at the dinner table before the feast was more than half over. I got a post obit for ten thousand, and all I gave the young rake was two thousand; he had, besides, to pay Gripe the attorney a thumping bill of costs. And, by the way, that Gripe is a villain that must be closely watched; he was to have given me half the profits on the young lord's bill of costs, and I have good reason to think that he cheated me out of a portion of it, but the truth will come out when I am calling in the post obit, which will be now in a few days. Only think of two thousand paid away ten days ago, bringing in five times the amount now! Providence always favours the honest, saving, industrious man: but sure if we did not get an odd lift of that kind we could never get on these hard times. I knew when I got the post obit that the old lord was such a drunkard and glutton that he could not live for any time, but it was the goodness of God that brought him home so soon. I calculated upon two or three years; only think of ten days! Come, Tim, fill your glass, and we will drink success to all post obit transactions."

Tim filled the glass, and said, "I don't exactly understand the meaning of these words, but what would you think, sir, if we drink to the memory of old Lord Flareaway ?"

"A capital idea," said Old Hawk, as he poured out a glass of good brown sherry, "let the toast then be, the memory of Lord Flareaway, and may all lords whose heirs owe honest men money soon meet the same fate."

"I say the same," replied Tim, and both swallowed off their wine.

"Now listen to me for a moment," said Old Hawk, "whilst I tell you what I am about to do, and ask your advice upon the subject. I know the change I am about to make is a very important one, and will add a good deal to our expense; but if we expend in one way we can curtail in another, and I know that you will give me all the assistance in your power."

Tim replied, that much would depend upon the sort of mistress be would get, and added, that he was most impatient to hear her name.

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That," continued his master," you shall hear presently, and if I mistake not you will approve of her as a person who will not expect too much. I have long thought of the matter, but the occurrences of this night have decided me: Fogarty is an honest man, and I will have his daughter Kate in marriage; she is a saving, proper young woman, who will be a good wife. I was in her father's house some time ago, when I heard her say that if she were a penny short of a hundred pounds she would not be any

longer able to pay that sum, and that it was the pennies saved more than the pennies earned that made the money. Now to hear such wisdom from the mouth of a girl so young is rare in this age of extravagance and folly, and if I don't mistake much, the daughter of Fogarty is worthy of being united to the Norberry family; but this brother of mine, who has such high notions, and whose son is now in college, will not consent to the alliance, and will do all in his power to prevent it, more particularly as he expects to get all my money, but I will disappoint these expectants. Gripe, the villain, will be also disappointed in the accomplishment, of certain plans he had laid for my ruin. You know he is attorney to that broken down spendthrift Colonel Dilkes, who has for many years been living upon the money of other people and keeping up appearances of splendour, regardless as to who will suffer in the end; he has a daughter who has been forgotten by the world, although she has been all her life accustomed to go into what is called high society, and only think of Gripe proposing to me to marry her, with a view, no doubt, of her father and family laying hold of my hard earned money; but I shall disappoint them all: why, it would ruin a man, no matter what money he might have, to support a wife accustomed to such extravagance. It won't do, Tim, it won't do, and Gripe shan't pocket the poundage upon a settlement on the daughter of old Dilkes. Fill again; here's Kate Fogarty of the Ram.""

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"Kate Fogarty of the Ram," echoed Tim, and both again quaffed their wine. "I approve highly of your choice," said the old servant, "I would like the beautiful creature for a mistress; but, master, you are too old to marry so young a woman, and you know besides, that you should have her consent: has that been yet obtained ?"

"No," said his master, "I have not yet spoken on the subject to herself or her father, for it was only this night I came finally to the conclusion of making her my wife. There can be no disappointment in the matter; only think of the honour that will be done to Fogarty the inn-keeper, by an alliance with the Norberry family, and the certainty that she will have all my wealth after my death. The thing is quite certain. Kate Fogarty the bar-maid at the Ram' transformed into Mrs. Norberry! the thing is too tempting, there can be no disappointment; and lest any fatality should occur, I will propose the matter to-morrow to the young woman and her father, but it must be kept a secret for some time; Gripe must be kept in ignorance of every thing, the post obit shall be called in, and my papers taken out of his hands, before it is spoken of; but what is to be done with old Shue ?"

Why, of course," said Tim," she will be a faithful servant to you and the mistress, as she has been to yourself; and as you must have one, you would not think of putting her away."

"I don't know how that may be yet; might I not as well marry the old Colonel's daughter, or some one like her, if I were to have servants to attend her? I think Kate Fogarty, even when she becomes Mrs. Norberry, will not be above her own business, and that we can live very comfortably without the expense of a servant."

"I am sure, master," said Tim, " that that will be matter for future arrangement, and I can tell you from experience that your opinions with regard to the management of your affairs will be greatly changed by marriage. I was a very young man when I married Nancy Cassidy; poor thing, she died after giving birth to a son in little more than a year after our union; and, in plain truth I must tell you, master, that it cost me more that year than for any other five years of my existence; I loved the poor creature, and in honour of her memory I never thought of marriage again. It is now nearly thirty years since I came to your father's house, and I believe you have always found me a faithful servant; the loss of my dear wife would have reconciled me to a fate much more unpleasant than to serve you."

"Oh," said Old Hawk, "you alarm me about the expense; why, if the wife had lived, you should have been ruined."

"I forgot to add," replied Tim, "that some way or other my means more than increased in a comparative degree with my expenses; and I do believe, had God spared me my wife, I would have been better off in the world than I am, although I might have more care."

"Why that is consoling," rejoined the master, "and I think it is now time that we should retire to rest. I feel that new scenes of an extraordinary character are before me; that even in my old days I shall be blessed with a good wife, and if I had one son to inherit my wealth, I would die happy. To-morrow Kate Fogarty, the handsome daughter of the honest landlord of the 'Ram,' shall be honoured by a proposal of marriage from the head of the Norberry family, and Gripe, the Colonel my brother, and the clan belonging to his haughty wife, shall be disappointed. Good night, Tim; not a word about this matter until it is all complete; above all, old Shue is not to hear it; I know that a woman cannot keep a secret."

Tim finished his glass of wine, and having stirred up the firewood in the grate, with a view to cast sufficient light about the apartment to enable his master to see the way to bed, he withdrew by a narrow passage which led to the rear of the house to take his repose on the stable loft.