A bailiff is serving a writ outside the Debtors' Prison, the barred windows of which are filled with the faces of persons captured by one Catchpole, Sheriff's Officer. The unfortunate prisoners, crowded behind the bars of their jail, are enjoying a grim instance of retributive justice. While the bailiff is startling his victim with his unexpected capture-bespeaking tap, Death, dart in hand, is lightly performing the same ceremony for the stalwart sheriffs officer, who is summoned in his turn, and conclusively.
Thus, as he told his stern command,
A grisly spectre's fleshless hand
His shoulder touch'd. It chill'd his blood,
And at the sight he trembling stood.
'You long have ow'd,' the Phantom said,
'What now must instantly be paid.'
'O give me time!' 'Thou caitiff dun,
You know full well you gave him none.
Your life's the debt that I am suing;
'Tis the last process, Master Bruin.'
'I'll put in bail above.' 'No, no:
Old Nick shall be your bail below.'
Plate 19. The Insurance Office.
Insure his life, but to your sorrow
You'll pay a good round sum to-morrow.
A country squire, in the prime of life, has married a young bride; he is persuaded by his frugal spouse to insure his life as a provision for her maintenance, from prudential reasons. As the young wife sensibly states the case:—
Nature, in all her freaks and fun,
Has never given us a son;
And there's no jointure, sir, for me
Without that same contingency.
For your estate's so bound and tied,
So settled and transmogrified,
(A thing one scarcely can believe)
You've not a thousand pounds to leave.
The artist has represented the couple arrived in town, and visiting the insurance office, the 'Globe,' or 'Pelican;' the actuary, the secretary, and the doctor are there to pass the customer's life, and Death—spectacles on nose and dart in hand—is also one of the party; unperceived, he is stooping down behind the seemingly robust applicant, and gloating over the mischievous prank he has in contemplation.
To this the doctor sage agreed,
The office then was duly fee'd,
And sign'd and seal'd each formal deed.
Now Death, who sometimes loves to wait
At an insurance office gate,
To baffle the accountant's skill
And mock the calculating quill,
Had just prepar'd his cunning dart
To pierce Ned Freeman's tranquil heart:
But lest the stroke should cause dispute,
And lawyers conjure up a suit,
Death was determined to delay
Ned's exit to a future day;
And the dull moment to amuse,
He turn'd and kill'd a pair of Jews.
Thus was the husband's life insur'd,
And the wife's future wealth secur'd.
But Death had not forgot his fiat,
So bid a fever set him quiet;
And ere, alas, ten days were past,
Honest Ned Freeman breath'd his last.
The doctor call'd to certify
His glowing health now saw him die.
Thus she who lately came to town
With not a doit that was her own,
Weeping attends her husband's hearse,
With many a thousand in her purse,
And proves that she's of wives the best
Who knows her real interest.
Plate 20. The Schoolmaster.
Death with his dart proceeds to flog
Th' astonished, flogging pedagogue.