CHAPTER XII.
_Doctor Cassock, F.R.S. I.P.Q._
Doctor Cassock was, in his day, a most extraordinary man: he was adouble-first at Oxford, a scholar, and a gentleman. He was a mostbenevolent little man, and Doctor Gambado's friend and pastor, both wellread and well bred. But he was ever cultivating his inventive faculty todo good. In his visits to the poor, he invented new bed-rests, newcradles, new spring beds, new comforts of every kind. He was a greatinventor of puzzle locks,--puzzle keys,--puzzle cupboards, doors, windowframes, and fire-guards. In short there was, as he used to say, nodevice in the grave; therefore, he was ever starting something new.
Many a mechanic was indebted to him, and many a printer,--for in hischurch of St. Mildred's, in the Poultry, he was the first to put asidethe old English black-letter character of the Bible and Prayer-book, andto assume the type, which holds fast in all good printing-offices tothe present day. His sermons were always new, and were the only thingsin which he might be said to puzzle nobody; for they were plain, simplesermons of solid truth and practical utility.
He loved every soul, and being an acknowledged well-read scholar, he wasmore popular among his people than anyone who tried to gain popularity.His inventive faculty, had it been in the present age, instead of onehundred years ago, might have procured him the celebrity of a Brunel,and a fortune; but his scheming being always for others, he at lastpuzzled or puddled his own affairs so as to involve himself and hismeans in difficulties; and becoming very low spirited, the friend ofothers had to go and consult Doctor Gambado, and to tell him at oncethat he came to be a charity patient, for he had not a guinea in theworld to give him.
"My dear, Cassock," said the Doctor, "in carrying out your variousprojects, you have forgotten that learning and wisdom should be jointcompanions; that they are of little worth when separate, but ofinestimable value when united."
"You speak truth, my dear Gambado; and I find, by experience, that aword of wisdom will often go further than a purse full of guineas. Quiteright. But you have known me long enough to observe, that I have everthought the practical part of my profession superior to all the learnedpart."
"That may be true. But, Doctor, you have not confined either yourteaching or your practice to the duties of your profession. I deny notthat you have done good to many. You have done me a great deal of good;for, to a certainty, I never knew you preach one thing and practiceanother. Yet, sometimes, I have known you interest yourself so deeply inimaginary inventions, as to persuade yourself that you were doing good,when you were entirely mistaken."
The Doctor sighed, and simply said, "Gambado, we can never all thinkalike, any more than we can all be alike. You have done right and madeyour fortune; while my coat is threadbare, and I begin to want."
"All, believe me, Doctor, is as it should be. You want my advice gratis.I always have had yours gratis, and profitted by it, and loved it. Now,if you will take my advice, I will take yours, and so we shall findmutual accommodation."
"What is your advice?"
"Ride on horseback."
"How can I do so? One hundred pounds in debt, and only one hundredpounds per annum. I cannot starve a year, and ride on horseback too.You give advice I cannot follow."
"I should be sorry to do so. I will write you a prescription, but youmust take it yourself to be made up in Lombard-street; and I will writeyou a note, which you must take to Mr. John Tattsall.
"Just read that paper, while I write the prescription, Doctor Cassock."
"Messrs Gold, Silver, and Company, Bankers, Lombard-street. Pay the bearer L100 on account of, "Your's, faithfully, L100. GEOFFERY GAMBADO"
"DEAR JOHN,--Give my old friend, Doctor Cassock, just such a nag as the first I had of you for L50, and I will pay you for it,--for its keep, and for its stable room,--groom and all,--so that the Doctor may always find it saddled and bridled, and have nothing to pay; but set all down to the account of, "Your's at command, GEOFFERY GAMBADO." "Mr. John Tattsall."
A tear rose to the eye of Doctor Cassock, as his friend handed to himboth the notes; and he felt that species of choaking sensation, which agood man feels at the unexpected generosity of a real friend.
"Oh, Gambado! what advice can I ever have given to you, worthy suchgenerosity as this?"
"My dear old friend, I will tell you at once that I only follow out thetext upon which you preached yesterday:
"'Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do unto them:for this is the law, and the prophets.' I have only done as I would bedone by."
The Doctor could only say, "God bless you."
He was soon after enabled to repay the Doctor; for a distant relationleft him an independence, a few weeks after; and he became the merriest,if not the wisest, old gentleman of his day.
He could not, even then, leave off the faculty of invention; for hebecame the noted inventor of a noble puzzle, for Tumble-down horses. Hewas actually induced to take out a patent for it. He never found anybody but himself to use it. He did use it, though in his case it neverwas wanted, for his horse never tumbled down with him; and he puteveryone who saw him riding with it, in such a merry mood, that it wasdifficult to say which laughed the heartiest, the Doctor himself, orthose who beheld him.
A friend in need is a friend indeed; If you find him, own his worth; He has never a word, but 'tis always God speed, From the east to west, from south to north; Do good to all, and do evil to none, And do to others,--what should be done.