An experiment or two by himself
and his compeers, with comments by the coroner, had enlightened him as to
the final result on the human body of potent chemicals fearlessly
administered, leaving him dark as to their distinctive qualities applied
remedially. What should he do? Run with the prescription to old Taylor in
the next street, a chemist of forty years? Alas! at his tender age he had
not omitted to chaff that reverend rival persistently and publicly.
Humble his establishment before the King Street one? Sooner perish drugs,
and come eternal cricket! And after all, why not? Drummer-boys, and
powder-monkeys, and other imps of his age that dealt destruction, did not
depopulate gratis; Mankind acknowledged their services in cash: but old
Jenner, taught by Philosophy through its organ the newspapers that
"knowledge is riches," was above diluting with a few shillings a week the
wealth a boy acquired behind his counter; so his apprentices got no
salary. Then why not shut up the old rogue's shutters, and excite a
little sympathy for him, to be followed by a powerful reaction on his
return from walking; and go and offer his own services on the
cricket-ground to field for the gentlemen by the hour, or bowl at a
shilling on their balls?
"Bowling is the lay for me," said he; "you get money for that, and you
only bruise the gents a bit and break their thumbs: you can't put their
vital sparks out as you can at this work.
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