hould bear
with him, till he read me over the story he had just finished as I came
in, and which had been running in his noddle. At such a late hour, for
it was now wearing on to wellnigh ten o'clock, I was not just clear about
listening to anything bloody; but not to vex the old boy, who, I am sure,
would not have sleeped a wink through the night for disappointment, had
he not got a free breast made of it, I at long and last
consented--provided his story was not too long. My chief particularity
on this point, as I should mention, was, that it was past Benjie's
bedtime, and the callant had a hoast, which required all his mother's as
well as my own good doctoring--having cost us two bottles of Dantzic
black beer, with little effect; besides not a few other recommendations
of friends and skielly acquaintances.

It was best, therefore, to consent with a good grace; so, after clearing
his windpipes, James wiped the eyes of his spectacles with the corner of
his red-check pocket-napkin; and thereafter fixing them on his beak, he
commenced preaching away in grand style at some queer outlandish stuff,
which fairly baffled my gumption. I must confess, however, both in
fairness to Taffy and to James, that, as I had been up since five in the
morning (having pawned my word to send home Duncan Imrie, the
heel-cutter's new duffle great-coat by breakfast time, as he had to go
into the Edinburgh leather-market by eleven), my een were gathering
straws; and it was only at the fearsome parts that I could for half a
moment keep them sundry. "Many men," however, "many minds," as the
copy-line book says; and as every one has a right to judge for himself, I
requested James to copy the concern out for me; and ye here have it, word
for word, without substraction, multiplication, or addition.

The Maid Of Damascus

In the reign of the Greek Emperor Heraclius, when the beautiful city of
Damascus was at the height of its splendour and magnificence, dwelt
therein a young noble, named Demetrius, whose decayed fortunes did not
correspond with the general prosperity of the times. He was a youth of
ardent disposition, and very handsome in person: pride kept him from
bettering his estate by the profession of merchandise, yet more keenly
did he feel the obscurity to which adverse fates had reduced him, that in
his lot was involved the fortune of one dearer than himself.

It so happened that, in that quarter of the city which faces the row o