Year: 1878

inconveniently near-slghted, and he
meditated upon the policy of wearing
spectacles as soon as he arrived home.
But then, considering that they would
make him look old-and he was only
thirty-five, and unmarried-he thought
that he would defer them.


Passing through the old, familiar
streets, he was very glad to meet many
of his old friends and acquaintances
but he offended many whom being near
sighted, he did not recognize. They
thought him grown proud and cold be-
cause he had been abroad and that he
wished to shirk their acquaintaneeship.
For they saw that he looked at them but
passed without speaking. He did see
them but having grown so uncomfort-
ably near-sighted, he was uncertain,
and so passed. 1t was very vexatious
deficiency to him, for he was of frank,
cordial nature, and seldom waited for q
friend to speak first.


The apparent alteration in his feel
ings excited both angry attention and
remark. Those who thought that he
had turned the cold shoulder upon them,
looked back, and some saw that he did
speak with others whom he met and did
happen to recognize and they severally
put.th own constructive upon his
behavior.


If he chanced to pass poor man and
stopped to chat with a rich one, the poor
man sneered, and declared that he was
"giving himself airs because he had
made the grand tourl"


If, on the other hand, he had seemed
to ignore some wealthy acquaintance,
and that person observed that he subse-
quently showed great cordiality to
poor man, he was set down as fond of
low company, and grown dissipated and
reckless of appearances probably from
being only admitted into inferior COM
pany abroad"


Thus poor Augustus Blinkerman, ow-
ing to his near-sightedness, stood be-
tween two fires, and deserved neither of
them.


The story of his unintentional oflenses
reached his ears, and made him feel
very much disconnected. 1t wounded
him very much to think that he had
wounded others, and that they had mis-
construed him.


should say blast my eyes y" he
thought; "but they are already pretty
essentially blasted, do think. Buthere-
after, eyes or no eyes, I'm determined to
hail everybody that 1 think know, and
run the risk of the persons being "a
stranger. L won't be misconstrued. L
shall lose all my friends. I'll nod or
speak to everybody who seems to bear
the slightest resemblance to anybody L
ever knew; and look sharp at that"


In pursuance of this amiable resolu-
ton, the near-sighted man, when he
went abroad again, found himself bow
ing till his neck was tired, got himself
into quite fever of anxiety, and often
found that he had saluted utter strangers,
many of whom were ill-bred, for most
of them returned no bow, and all of
them stared as if wondering who he
could be. He knew very well, but he
wondered what kind of people they
were.


They might at least have the decency
to return civil bow" thought he seven
If it did come from stranger who had
made a mistake. And how do they
know but what am the Great Mogul !?
But there comes a man that am sure l
know. How are you Bob? How do
you doY"


The person to whom he addressed
himself thus familiarly = extending his
hand with the most confident cordiality
at the same time-drew himself up very
haughtily, and replied:


" Sir, my name is not Bob And what
is more, sir, L don't know you !"


$ Ha, hal That's good joke, Bob
Lodger. At your old games, see, You
needn't think I've forgot you, if have
been away two years. But no nonsense,
now. Hows the old lady? And how
have you been 20


elf you don't get out of my way, sir,
III be hanged If don't knock you
down ~ exclaimed the stranger, highly
exasperated. "You don't look drunk,
but you act so. You can't make fool
of me, at any rate"


Nor you of me, Bob. Do you think
1 don't recognize that long nose OF
yours? Doyou think don't remem-