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THE
Rev. Dr. Gillan was one day standing at the
piazza at the Tontine, near to the Cross, to get shelter from a shower of
rain, when he observed a working-man vigorously puffing away at a clay
pipe daring his meal hour. Desirous of improving the occasion, the doctor
walked up to him, and the following ensued
:—
Doctor :—"
That’s a good going pipe, mister."
Young man :—"
Yes."
Doctor :—" You’ll go through a good deal of
tobacco?"
Young man :—"
Oh, no much; sometimes three and sometimes
four ounces a week."
Doctor :—"
Well, my young man, see what a lot of money
you could save by giving up that filthy habit. Four ounces in the week
comes to one shilling, and as there are fifty-two weeks in the year,
that’s two pounds twelve shillings you might save in the course of a
twelvemonth, which would be a grand nest egg in the savings bank, or might
buy you a splendid suit of clothes every year."
Young man :—" Doubtless, doubtless, sir; but as you
have all the appearance of a well-to-do gentleman, I suppose you’ll take a
glass of wine to dinner?"
Doctor :—" Yes, I generally have a couple of
glasses of wine during the day."
Young man :—" And no doubt you’ll have a glass of
toddy before going to bed ?"
Doctor :—" I do generally indulge to that extent
each night."
Young ‘man :—" Well, that’s one shilling a day at a
very low estimate, and as there are three hundred and sixty-five days in
the year, that’s eighteen pounds five shillings you might easily save
every year by giving up that nasty habit!" It is needless to remark that
the doctor made no further attempt to improve the occasion. |
