whistled slow tunes, as he cut himself out of his
unaccustomed harness by the help of a pen-knife with a file-blade.

CHAPTER VII.

Contains a full account of the interview of the Cash Customer
with Doctor Wilson, the Astrologer, of No. 172 Delancey Street.
The Fates decree that he shall "pizon his first Wife." HOORAY!!

CHAPTER VII.

DR. WILSON, No. 172 DELANCEY STREET.

This ignorant, half-imbecile old man is the only _wizard_ in New
York whose fame has become public. There are several other men
who sometimes, as a matter of favor to a curious friend, exercise
their astrological skill, but they do not profess witchcraft as a
means of living; they do not advertise their gifts, but only
dabble in necromancy in an amateur way, more as a means of
amusement than for any other purpose. On the other hand Dr.
Wilson freely uses the newspapers to announce to the public his
star-reading ability, and his willingness, for a consideration,
to tell all events, past and future, of a paying customer's life.
He professes to do all his fortune-telling in a "strictly
scientific" manner, and it is but justice to him to say, that he
alone, of all the witches of New York, drew a horoscope,
consulted books of magic, made intricate mathematical calculations,
and made a show of being scientific. In his case only was any
attempt made to convince the seeker after hidden wisdom, that
modern fortune-telling is aught else than very lame and shabby
guesswork. The old Doctor has by no means so many customers as
many of his female rivals; he is old and unprepossessing--were he
young and handsome the case might be otherwise.

He has been a pretended "botanic physician," or what country
people term a "root doctor;" but failing to earn a living by the
practice of medicine, he took up "Demonology and Witchcraft" to
aid him to eke out a scanty subsistence. He does but little in
either branch of his business, the public appearing to have
slight faith in his ability either to cure their maladies or
foretell their future.

The character of his surroundings is noted in the following
description, and his oracular communication is given, word for
word.

An Hour with a Wizard.--The Cash Customer is to "Pizon"
his First Wife, and then get Another. Hooray!

"I am like a vagabond pig with no family ties, who has no lady
pig to welcome him home o'nights, and with no tender sucklings to
call him 'papa,' in that prattling porcine