_Doctor Cassock, F.R.S. I.P.Q._
Doctor Cassock was, in his day, a most extraordinary man: he was a
double-first at Oxford, a scholar, and a gentleman. He was a most
benevolent little man, and Doctor Gambado's friend and pastor, both well
read and well bred. But he was ever cultivating his inventive faculty to
do good. In his visits to the poor, he invented new bed-rests, new
cradles, new spring beds, new comforts of every kind. He was a great
inventor of puzzle locks,--puzzle keys,--puzzle cupboards, doors, window
frames, and fire-guards. In short there was, as he used to say, no
device in the grave; therefore, he was ever starting something new.
Many a mechanic was indebted to him, and many a printer,--for in his
church of St. Mildred's, in the Poultry, he was the first to put aside
the old English black-letter character of the Bible and Prayer-book, and
to assume the type, which holds fast in all good printing-offices to
the present day. His sermons were always new, and were the only things
in which he might be said to puzzle nobody; for they were plain, simple
sermons of solid truth and practical utility.
He loved every soul, and being an acknowledged well-read scholar, he was
more popular among his people than anyone who tried to gain popularity.
His inventive faculty, had it been in the present age, instead of one
hundred years ago, might have procured him the celebrity of a Brunel,
and a fortune; but his scheming being always for others, he at last
puzzled or puddled his own affairs so as to involve himself and his
means in difficulties; and becoming very low spirited, the friend of
others had to go and consult Doctor Gambado, and to tell him at once
that he came to be a charity patient, for he had not a guinea in the
world to give him.
"My dear, Cassock," said the Doctor, "in carrying out your various
projects, you have forgotten that learning and wisdom should be joint
companions; that they are of little worth when separate, but of
inestimable value when united."
"You speak truth, my dear Gambado; and I find, by experience, that a
word of wisdom will often go further than a purse full of guineas. Quite
right. But you have known me long enough to observe, that I have ever
thought the practical part of my profession superior to all the learned
part."
"That may be true. But, Doctor, you have not confined either your
teaching or your practice to the duties of your profession. I deny not
that you have done good to many. You have done me a great deal of good;
for, to a certainty, I never knew you preach one thing and practice
another. Yet, sometimes, I have known you interest yourself so deeply in
imaginary inventions, as to persuade yourself that you were doing good,
when you were entirely mistaken."
The Doctor sighed, and simply said, "Gambado, we can never all think
alike, any more than we can all be alike. You have done right and made
your fortune; while my coat is threadbare, and I begin to want."
"All, believe me, Doctor, is as it should be. You want my advice gratis.
I always have had yours gratis, and profitted by it, and loved it. Now,
if you will take my advice, I will take yours, and so we shall find
mutual accommodation."
"What is your advice?"
"Ride on horseback."
"How can I do so? One hundred pounds in debt, and only one hundred
pounds per annum. I cannot starve a year, and ride on horseback too.
You give advice I cannot follow."
"I should be sorry to do so. I will write you a prescription, but you
must take it yourself to be made up in Lombard-street; and I will write
you a note, which you must take to Mr. John Tattsall.
"Just read that paper, while I write the prescription, Doctor Cassock."
"Messrs Gold, Silver, and Company, Bankers, Lombard-street. Pay the
bearer L100 on account of,
"Your's, faithfully,
L100. GEOFFERY GAMBADO"
"DEAR JOHN,--Give my old friend, Doctor Cassock, just such a nag as
the first I had of you for L50, and I will pay you for it,--for its
keep, and for its stable room,--groom and all,--so that the Doctor
may always find it saddled and bridled, and have nothing to pay; but
set all down to the account of,
"Your's at command,
GEOFFERY GAMBADO."
"Mr. John Tattsall."
A tear rose to the eye of Doctor Cassock, as his friend handed to him
both the notes; and he felt that species of choaking sensation, which a
good man feels at the unexpected generosity of a real friend.
"Oh, Gambado! what advice can I ever have given to you, worthy such
generosity as this?"
"My dear old friend, I will tell you at once that I only follow out the
text upon which you preached yesterday:
"'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them:
for this is the law, and the prophets.' I have only done as I would be
done by."
The Doctor could only say, "God bless you."
He was soon after enabled to repay the Doctor; for a distant relation
left him an independence, a few weeks after; and he became the merriest,
if not the wisest, old gentleman of his day.
He could not, even then, leave off the faculty of invention; for he
became the noted inventor of a noble puzzle, for Tumble-down horses. He
was actually induced to take out a patent for it. He never found any
body but himself to use it. He did use it, though in his case it never
was wanted, for his horse never tumbled down with him; and he put
everyone who saw him riding with it, in such a merry mood, that it was
difficult to say which laughed the heartiest, the Doctor himself, or
those who beheld him.
A friend in need is a friend indeed;
If you find him, own his worth;
He has never a word, but 'tis always God speed,
From the east to west, from south to north;
Do good to all, and do evil to none,
And do to others,--what should be done.
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