without curtains, and counterpaned by a rug, bearing all the vestiges of long and arduous service, and tinted only by the accumulated soil of half a century, which no scourer's hand had ever prophaned. "That, Sir," said the artist, "is my bed; I use no curtains, because they are unwholesome, and I breathe more freely, and sleep as soundly as if I reposed on down, and snored under velvet.—But there, my friend," continued he, pointing to a broad shelf, fixed high above the bed, and fortified on three sides by the walls of the recess, "that is my chef-d'œuvre—'Ecod I have outdone them at last."—"Out-done whom?" said Mr. Burke.—The rats, the d——d rats, my dear friend," replied Barry, rubbing his palms in ecstacy, "they beat me out of every other security in the house—could not keep any thing for them, in cupboard or closet; they devoured my cold meat, and bread and cheese, and bacon: but there they are now, you see, all safe and snug, in defiance of all the rats in the parish." Mr. Burke could not do less than highly commend his invention, and congratulate him on its success. They now descended to the first room; Barry, whose only clock was his stomach, felt it was his dinner hour, but totally forgot his invitation, until Mr. Burke reminded him of it:—"Ods-oh! my dear friend," said he, "I beg your pardon: so I did invite you, and it totally escaped my memory—but if you will sit down here and blow the fire, I'll step out and get a charming beef steak in a minute." Mr. Burke took the bellows to cheer up the fire—and Barry his departure to cater for the banquet. And shortly after, he returned with a comely beef-steak, enveloped in cabbage leaves, crammed into one pocket; the other was filled with potatoes; under each arm was a bottle of port, procured at Slaughter's coffee-house; and in each hand a French brick. An antique gridiron was placed on the fire, and Mr. Burke performed the office of cook; while Barry as butler, set the table, which he covered with a table cloth, perfectly geographical; for the stains of former soups and gravies bad given it the
