“The wery same,” replied Mr. Weller. “This here red-nosed man, Sammy, wisits your mother-in-law vith a kindness and constancy I never see equalled. He’s sitch a friend o’ the family, Sammy, that wen he’s avay from us, he can’t be comfortable unless he has somethin’ to remember us by.”

“And I’d give him somethin’ as ’ud turpentine and beeswax his memory for the next ten years or so, if I wos you,” interposed Sam.

“Stop a minute,” said Mr. Weller; “I wos a-going to say, he always brings now, a flat bottle as holds about a pint and a half, and fills it vith the pineapple rum afore he goes avay.”

“And empties it afore he comes back, I s’pose?” said Sam.