Japhet, in Search of a Father

ess take my degree at fifteen as an M.D.; and w

ket-money; but independent of these pillages by the aid of pills, and making drafts upon our master's legitimate profits, by the assis

soon obtained a very fair smattering of my profession. He also taught me how to bleed, by making me, in the first instance, puncture very scientifically, all the larger veins o

no getting blood out of a turnip; but it seems there is more chance with a cabbage. I tell

here asserted, that the nose was the facial feature most likely to be transmitted from father to son. As I before have mentioned, my nose was rather aquiline; and after I had read this book, it was surprising with what eagerness I examined the faces of those whom I met; and if I saw a nose upon any man's face, at all resembling my own, I immediately would wonder and surmise whether that person could be my father. The constant

roughfare, passengers would stop to look in, and ragged-vested, and in other garments still more ragged, little boys would stand to stare at the variety

ision in her manner of walking, which was almost masculine, although her form, notwithstanding that it was tall and thin, was extremely feminine and graceful. Sometimes she would fix her eyes upon me, and there was a wildness in

ay. In her latter peregrinations, towards the evening, her gait was more vigorous, but unequal, at the same time that h

osition by my side, she walked into the shop. Her eye appeared wild, as usual, but I could not make out that it was insanity. I recovered my self-possession, and desired Timothy to hand the lady a chair, begging to know in what way I could be useful. Timothy walked round by the end of the counter, pushed a chair near to her, and then made a ha

arance of the speaker; and when I looked up in her face, which was now exposed to the glare of the argand lamp, and witnessed the cadaverous, pale, chalky expression on it, and the crow's fe

eagerly and respectfully, "all

e," continued she in an undertone, "that you dispense

w up his legs alternately, as if he were dancing on hot plates; he slapped his pockets, grinned, clenched his fists, ground his teeth, and bit his lips till he made the blood

n some trivial cases, and, as you say, received money when

What I would request is, that you would prescribe for m

madam," said I, b

julep ready made

dam," re

bottle, she paid for it, and putting it into Timothy's hands, desired him to take it to the

" said she, in the

land, madam

e," said the lady, musirg in half soli

res. "She is some fanatical methodist;" but I looked at her again, and

at name?" said s

t not wishing to make a confidant of her, I gently replied, as I used to do in the Fou

l," said she, after a paus

s worthy of being admired. What a pity, thought

ts considerable nervous excitement? I reckoned i

plied I, "but perhaps the camp

he, laying down a guinea, "and if I am not better

nishment. What could she mean? I was lost in reverie, w

Japhet!" I recounted all that had passed. "Well, then, it

Tim, with all his espièglerie was not selfish, and he stoutly refused to take his share. He dubb

Timothy," said I, after

that's it, depend upon it." As I could find no other cause, and Tim's opinion was backed by my own vanity, I imag

avoured a person, at all events, Tim," r

o long as you don't

before, a bottle of camphor julep-sent Timothy home w

utting it back towards her

urchase books, you must study, or you never will be a great man." She then sat down, entered into conversat

son, I certainly felt very grateful, and moreover was charmed with the superiority of her mind. We were now on the most

if it were nece

en can you leave the shop and

your maid for me, sayin

'clock. Farewell, t