An English servant was sent to an acquaintance of his master’s, who
lived at a watch-maker’s in Dame-street. When he came to the shop, he
asked if the gentleman was at home; the watch-maker answered in the
affirmative, and directed him to go up three pair of stairs _backwards_.
After a journey of half an hour, and astonishing the whole house with
his noise, he arrived at the door and delivered his message. The
gentleman gave him a dram, which he took, saying, “Long life to your
good-natured heart and to mine, and I should be obliged to you to tell
me a better way down, for the man told me I was to come up _backwards_;
and if, sir, I go down the same way, I am certain I shall break my
neck.” The gentleman bursts into a fit of laughing, and explained the
watch-maker’s meaning.
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