BETTY WATSON, familiarly called Mother Watson, in the dingy court in which she tenanted a single room, was one of those kindhearted, charitable creatures, who, to the honour of human nature, are so frequently met with among the poorer classes. There was not one of the fifty souls who dwelt within the confined limits of the crowded court but esteemed her. Men, women, and children, all felt the influence of her beneficence; for true goodness of heart is like the purest gold, the smallest portion is capable of being spread over an almost incredible surface. She was a physician, and literally gave her advice and prescriptions to the sick; and nurse and apothecary, to boot, to all the children in their little ailments. She was a judicious pacificator in all family squabbles; and rendered many a home happy by reclaiming a drunken husband; for the least worthy among the men respected her for the many obligations they owed her, and feared her reproofs.

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Although an illiterate woman, she had a perfect consciousness of what was right, and generally addressed a delinquent, or a straggler from the path of duty, in a style which partook more of the boldness of truth than the delicate fencing of a refined rhetoric. In fact, talking-to" from Mother Watson seldom failed in its object; for, even "the brute" who would beat his wife, listened to the kind old woman, who was ever ready to do a good turn for a neighbour, with, at least, a dogged respect.

There are, indeed, more real charity, and more sincere gratitude, among the lower orders than the rich suspect. Besides, the services, and they were many, which she had rendered her neighbours, Mother Watson had won the good opinion of all by adopting and bringing up an orphan boy, only four years old, whose parents had fallen victims to the scarlet fever, which had proved very fatal in the densely-populated court, in despite of the exertions of the good old

creature.

"I couldn't abear," said she, with tears in her eyes,-"I couldn't abear that the poor little innocent should go to the work'us, to be bandied about from one to t'other. Besides, I'm obligated, in a manner, to keep the poor thing; for, I promised 'em both that while Mother Watson could yarn a crust, their babby shouldn't want a morsel-poor dears! I thought their hearts would ha' busted when they said God bless you!' and I dropped on my knees, and prayed that I might have health and strength to keep my promise; and, thanks be to Providence! I have never wanted."

Mother Watson was only a laundress, and hard did she toil in her laborious vocation to "make both ends meet;" but she went to her task with a good will, and was enabled to surmount all her difficulties. Little Andrew was blest with a robust constitution, and soon became a sturdy boy; his inclination for "larning" was, however, almost on a par with the good woman's means of providing him with it; and being herself illiterate, she had no means of testing his ability or progress, although she "preached" to him continually of the value of education.

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Andrew was, unfortunately, of a surly and sullen disposition, and very much disposed to have his own way in everything; and, as he was not her own child, although she was more than a mother' him, she unwisely, but from kind motives, "spared the rod" when the refractory boy most richly deserved it.

Arrived at the age of thirteen, and possessing only a smattering of reading and writing, Betty pointed out the necessity of his giving up "buttons and marbles," and turning his attention to the propriety of endeavouring to earn an honest livelihood!

Having a genteel preference for idleness, and an aristocratic horror of servitude in any shape, Master Andrew merely answered her with an indignant frown, and remained at home all day, gloomy, savage, and thoughtful. It must be confessed that the good creature herself was nervous and "fidgety," as she said, at the idea of his first going out in the wide world; but possessed, at the same time, such a correct sense of the necessity, that she tried "high and low" to get him a place, and at last succeeded in recommending him as an errand-boy to a shop, where, for several years, she had done the "washing."

VOL. XIII.

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Her recommendation was sufficient; and, after schooling the unwilling cub, and setting him off to the best advantage, she introduced her protégé, who was to receive his "victuals" for his services.

This was the first step; and he had not remained above six months in the employment before he scraped acquaintance with many lads of the same grade, and, his wits being sharpened by the collision, he spoke about bettering his condition, and getting some remuneration for his valuable services!

"Slow and sure!" said Mother Watson, yet inwardly pleased at his ambition. "We must crawl before we walk, and walk before we run, Andrew."

The "people" he was with, finding that he was diligent and useful, voluntarily gave him a shilling a week in addition to his board. This advance, however, instead of satisfying his selfish disposition, only induced him to believe that he "was worth something;" which, translated into plain English, meant that he was worth a great deal more than he got; and, in the course of six months more, he applied for, and obtained a situation at a broker's in the "Lane," where he received five shillings a week, and "kept himself;" that is, Mother Watson fed and clothed him, and he kept or spent his allowance upon himself; for, as she afterwards declared, "she never in her born days saw the colour of his money."

THE MAN.

THE atmosphere of the Stock Exchange had a wonderful influence on the boy.

He suddenly became "mannish," and talked of his "prospects;" and he had scarcely been two years in the situation before the gambling spirit of the place tempted him to make a venture—and he was fortunate!

"He made a matter of ten pound," as Mother Watson said, and she was very pleased, although she derived no benefit from his speculation. Emboldened by the result of his first attempt, he risked his all and won again! yes! Andrew Saggers was actually worth fifty pounds!

And this was the last time that he condescended to impart to the kind-hearted creature, who had most disinterestedly rejoiced in his good fortune, the success of his daring speculations, for he incontinently quitted his employer, and his kind nurse and guardian, and took a lodging; and did not even employ the old woman, whom he termed an "old bore," to wash for him.

"She wanted nothink of him, poor dear!" as she said; "but she thought it was rather hard, too, after what she had done for him, that he should take no notice whatsomever of the old 'oman!"

At the period at which our veritable history commences, the fluctuation in the stock-market was very great, and many a beggar "was set upon horseback;" and Andrew was one of those, who, having neither character nor fortune to lose, dashed boldly forward, and was successful; whereas, had he failed, he would have been deemed a great rogue.

For several years poor Betty Watson sought in vain to ascertain the "whereabout" of Master Andrew; "not that she wanted any

think of him," as she often reiterated, "but she felt anxious about his welfare; althof he might have thought of the old 'oman as nursed him, and brought him up like from the egg-shell, as it were!"

At last, she discovered that he had an office, (for she could not read,) and ventured to inquire after him. Three or four pert and important clerks were in the place.

"Is Mr. Andrew at home?" inquired she, rather flustered at finding herself in such a fine office.

"Mr. Saggers, do you mean?"

"Yes, Mr. Saggers," said she, collecting her scattered senses. "His carriage is just driven from the door," was the reply.

"In a carriage!-goodness gracious me!" mentally exclaimed the old woman.

"If you want to see Mr. Saggers, you must be here at ten in the morning. Is it business? What's your name?"

The old woman sighed. "If you please, sir, tell him Betty Watson just called, that's all!" And she retreated, while the clerk winked at his fellows, who burst into a loud laugh,

Of course they never mentioned the "call" of such a "person" to Andrew Saggers, Esquire, who was reported to be worth fifty thousand pounds!-an omission which was certainly of no importance;

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the great man would have disdained to have recollected such a "poor devil;" although she did not seek him from any interested motives, but merely from a romantic feeling that he was the (unworthy) child of her adoption.

Saggers was indeed a rich man,- -a sordid, selfish, low-minded fellow, who was unworthy the affectionate solicitude of the poor washerwoman, who thanked Providence she wanted for nothing, and shed bitter tears when she reflected on his ingratitude.

As for Saggers, he was a perfect type of the "beggar on horseback;" despised by his clerks and servants for his rude language and overbearing conduct, and only endured by those who "could make anything of him." He feasted many, but had no friends. He only invited those to his table whom he wished to dazzle by his display; and, when they quitted him, they only laughed at, or envied him the possession of the means with which a series of fortunate speculations had supplied him.

He was, in truth, a very shallow, narrow-minded, vulgar man, with a domineering spirit, who delighted in playing "first fiddle" at his own board.

That same daring spirit of speculation, however, which had so suddenly elevated him above his natural level, being still most restlessly pursued, he rapidly descended from the height to which "luck," and not judgment, or honest industry, had raised him.

He was, in fact, a gambler, and experienced in the highest degree the successes and reverses of that unamiable character.

THE PAUPER.

LIKE the rush of a rocket was the rise of Andrew Saggers; and the beholders of his rapid and brilliant career turned up their eyes in wonder and envy; but, even with the same velocity did he now descend after the " powder" was expended. His case was in every

point like the aforesaid fire-work, and he fell from his artificial elevation as empty and worthless!

A defaulter to a considerable amount, he "waddled" out of the Alley," and was to be seen for a while among the seedy knot of paltry gamblers assembled in one corner of the Royal Exchange, trying his luck in Poyais, or any other "scrip," varying in amount from three pence to a shilling! But the tide was against him, and he rapidly drifted on the shoals of poverty.

He became a beggar, and solicited alms from those who had known him in palmier times, when he "tooled" his pair of "greys" with ostentatious display to his office-door every morning. Few pitied, many despised, and none esteemed him; for he possessed no virtues or sympathies with his former associates.

With an old greasy hat over his eyes, a brown-black kerchief about his neck, a tattered suit, and almost shoeless feet, he might be seen lurking about the piazzas, now and then raising his hand to his hat in speechless supplication to some former pal in the Stock Exchange; and sometimes the "poor devil" got a sixpence or a shilling tossed at him by one who was following in the same career in which he had once shone-" making money like dirt."