ohn Street, 55, Mrs
Smith's. Do you understand?"
"To be sure I do--can't I read? I reads all the directions, and all your
Latin stuff into the bargain--all your summen dusses, horez, diez,
cockly hairy. I mean to set up for myself one of these days."
"I'll knock you down one of these days, Mr Timothy, if you stay so long
as you do, looking at the print shops; that you may depend upon."
"I keep up all my learning that way," replied Timothy, walking off with
his load, turning his head round and laughing at me, as he quitted the
shop. Mr Brookes smiled, but said nothing.
As Timothy went out, in came Mr Cophagus. "Heh! Japhet--I see," said he,
putting up his cane, "nothing to do--bad--must work--um--and so on. Mr
Brookes--boy learn rudiments--good--and so on." Hereupon Mr Cophagus
took his cane from his nose, pointed to the large iron mortar, and then
walked away into the back parlour. Mr Brookes understood his master, if
I did not. He wiped out the mortar, threw in some drugs, and, showing me
how to use the pestle, left me to my work. In half an hour I discovered
why it was that Timothy had such an objection to what Mr Cophagus
facetiously termed the _rudiments_ of the profession. It was dreadful
hard work for a boy; the perspiration ran down me in streams, and I
could hardly lift my arms. When Mr Cophagus passed through the shop and
looked at me, as I continued to thump away with the heavy iron pestle.
"Good,"--said he, "by-and-bye--M.D.--and so on." I thought it was a very
rough road to such preferment, and I stopped to take a little breath.
"By-the-by--Japhet--Christian name--and so on--sirname--heh!"
"Mr Cophagus wishes to know your other name," said Mr Brookes,
interpreting.
I have omitted to acquaint the reader that sirnames as well as Christian
names, are always given to the children at the Foundling, and in
consequence of the bank note found in my basket, I had been named after
the celebrated personage whose signature it bore. "Newland is my other
name, sir," replied I.
"Newland--heh!--very good name--every body likes to see that name--and
have plenty of them in his pockets too--um--very comfortable--and so
on," replied Mr Cophagus, leaving the shop.
I resumed my thumping occupation, when Timothy returned with his empty
basket. He laughed when he saw me at work. "Well, how do you like the
rudimans?--and so on--heh?" said he, mimicking Mr Cophagus.
"Not overmuch," replied I, wiping my face.
"Th
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