A facetious friend of Dr. Kitchiner's, on a very wet night, after
several messengers, whom he had despatched for a coach, had returned
without obtaining one; at last, at "past one o'clock, and a rainy
morning," the wag walked himself to the next coach-stand, and politely
advised the waterman to mend his inside lining with a pint of beer, and
go home to bed; for said he, "there will be nothing for you to do to
night, I'll lay you a shilling that there's not a coach out." "Why, will
you, your honour? then done," cried Mr. Waterman; "but are you really
serious, 'cause, if so be as you be, I must make haste and go and get
one." Being assured he would certainly touch the twelvepenny if he did,
he trotted off on his "nag a ten toes," and in ten minutes returned with
a leathern conveyance.
* * * * *
Epicure Quin used to say, it was "not safe to sit down to a _Turtle
Feast_ at one of the City Halls, without a _basket-hilted knife and
fork_."--Another of his quips was, "Of all the banns of marriage I ever
heard, none gave me half such pleasure as the union of ANN-CHOVY with
good JOHN-DORY."
* * * * *