The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 88: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE STEAM PACKET. 63°. “Really your lordship’s goodness overwhelms me,” said Smale, in a most reverential and submissive tone; “and I am afraid a - “Don’t be afraid of anything, Mr. Smale,” again ejaculated his lordship. ‘‘ Pensions, places, and honours, are as easily manufactured by me as a new coat of Saxony cloth, or a Petersham surtout with velvet facings, figured buttons, and silk linings.” “< My lord!” cried the Custom-House clerk, somewhat astonished at the words which last met his ears. “‘ Go on, I say,”’ exclaimed the tailor, rather impatiently; ‘‘ ask any- thing you like—I can grant it, as sure as I’m a peer of England—just the same.” ¥ ‘Tf I must intrude upon your lordship, then,” said Smale, quite re-assured by this declaration, ‘‘1 humbly solicit your lordship’s interest in my behalf, for any good situation of four or five hundred pounds a-year in the Customs, which may become vacant; anda little pension of two or three hundred a-year for my more than mother— my venerable, infirm, and aged grandmother, who dotes a ‘‘T dare say she does!” exclaimed Mr. Buckram drily. “Who dotes on me,’’ continued Mr. Smale, his eyes filling with tears. ‘* And then, if it wouldn’t be taxing your lordship’s kindness too much—TI should most respectfully solicit the place of housekeeper, now vacant, at the House of Lords, for my beloved aunt Susan; and some little independence for my brother-in-law, who is a painstaking, deserving young man.” ‘“< Very well,” said Buckram, with difficulty suppressing a laugh, “I will make a memorandum of what you want. Have you anything else to ask, besides these little favours—which are really trifling ?” ‘¢ Why—thank your lordship,’’ returned Mr. Smale, emboldened and delighted by the affability of his new patron; “there’s aunt Deborah’s deaf and dumb boy—and my godmother, Mrs. Murgatroyd’s hump-backed girl; and poor Tim Macarthy wants a place, and would take it good-natured of me if I put in a word for him.” ‘<Tg that all?’’ demanded the tailor, solemnly. _ “Quite, thank your lordship,” replied Mr. Smale; “but if I should think of anything else, I can easily communicate my humble desire to your lordship——”’ | “ Precisely,” interrupted this most liberal of patrons: ‘‘ we shall be fellow-travellers for some time, 1 hope, Mr. Smale; and you can let me know.” Mr. Smale bowed ten times to the generous man who thus under- took the care of his future interests; and then withdrew to another part of the deck, walking backwards, out of respect, until his head Gomichbooks (eo)