subscription-book; and, perceiving the names of several old
friends, began to consider the groupe with more attention. At
length I discovered rear-admiral Balderick, the companion of my
youth, whom I had not seen since he was appointed lieutenant of
the Severn. He was metamorphosed into an old man, with a wooden
leg and a weatherbeaten face, which appeared the more ancient
from his grey locks, that were truly venerable -- Sitting down at
the table, where he was reading a news-paper, I gazed at him for
some minutes, with a mixture of pleasure and regret, which made
my heart gush with tenderness; then, taking him by the hand, 'Ah,
Sam (said I) forty years ago I little thought' -- I was too much
moved to proceed. 'An old friend, sure enough! (cried he,
squeezing my hand, and surveying me eagerly through his glasses)
I know the looming of the vessel, though she has been hard
strained since we parted; but I can't heave up the name' -- The
moment I told him who I was, he exclaimed, 'Ha! Matt, my old
fellow cruizer, still afloat!' And, starting up, hugged me in his
arms. His transport, however, boded me no good; for, in saluting
me, he thrust the spring of his spectacles into my eye, and, at
the same time, set his wooden stump upon my gouty toe; an attack
that made me shed tears in sad earnest -- After the hurry of our
recognition was over, he pointed out two of our common friends in
the room: the bust was what remained of colonel Cockril, who had
lost the use of his limbs in making an American campaign; and the
telescope proved to be my college chum, sir Reginald Bently; who,
with his new title, and unexpected inheritance, commenced fox-hunter,
without having served his apprenticeship to the mystery;
and, in consequence of following the hounds through a river, was
seized with an inflammation of his bowels, which has contracted
him into his present attitude.