The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 179: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

130 THE STEAM PACKET: Petersham with velvet facings, I won’t forget the old grandmother, and aunt Betsy, and Jack Murgatrim, and Mary Macarthy.” ** Ah! my lord, how shall I ever sufficiently testify my gratitude 3 q” cried Mr. Smale, affected to tears by the kindness of his patron. “You don’t stand much chance of doing so in this wicked world, I think!” said Buckram. ‘God forgive us all!” ‘“‘God forgive us, indeed!” ejaculated Mr. Smale; and at this : 'moment a sudden motion of the vessel tossed him into the tailor’s lap. “Holloa!” shouted Buckram. | | ‘<A thousand pardons, my lord!’ cried the discomfited Smale, as he again settled himself close to the tailor in the corner: “I would not offend your lordship for the world—particularly after all your lord- ship’s gracious condescension towards me; but I have still another little favour to ask your lordship,” he added, looking diffidently in the countenance of him whom he was addressing. ** Well—go on,”’ said the tailor. “My lord,” continued Mr. Smale, sinking his voice almost to a whisper, “‘I must observe in the first place, that when I came upon this unfortunate voyage, I put all my little savings into my pocket- book, thinking that they would be safer with me here than in my tin box athome. After a few years of toil—for I am a hard-working young man, my lord, and can have an excellent character from——’” , ‘“* Yes—yes,” said Buckram, whose ears had pricked up, to use an equestrian simile, at the mention of the little savings. ‘‘ My little all, my lord,” proceeded Mr. Smale, “is contin In this parker boat ”’” and he produced one as he spoke, not suspecting that the “little-all”’ of his patron might be very well.comprised in a pill-box. Nera see,’ ’ said Buckram, eyeing the ickeen ek with evident ' pleasure; << what would you fee me do for you ?” “Take this money—take my little all,” cried Smale, in an impas- sioned tone: ‘‘be the trustee for my eal property in case I should perish and you should survive. Divide it equally between my worthy old grandmother—my beloved aunt Susan—aunt Deborah’s deaf and dumb boy, John—Mary Murgatroyd—and poor Tim Macarthy ;—do this my lord—for my sake—for the sake of those deserving people | whom you have so kindly taken under your patronage !” “Smale, my friend—my dear friend Smale,” said Buckram, grasp- ing the Custom-House clerk’s hand: ‘I will accept your trust—I will do your bidding—I will fulfil all your wishes ;—aye, and add a thou- sand pounds of my own too, in case it should be required.” ‘‘ Generous nobleman!’ murmured Smale, now altogether overcome / Gomichbooks (E(0)