I - 20 A Curious Decision

A Curious Decision

A poor chimney-sweeper, who had not enough money to buy a meal, stopped one hot summer day at noon before an eating-house, and remained regaling his nose with the smell of the victuals. The master of the shop told him several times to go away, but the sweep(1) could not leave the savory smell, though  unable  to  purchase  the  taste  of  the  food.  At  last  the  cook  came out  of  the  shop,  and  taking  hold  of  the  sweep,  declared  that,  as  he  had been  feeding  upon(2)  the  smell  of  his  victuals,  he  should  not  go  away without  paying  half  the  price  of  a  dinner.  The  poor  fellow  said  that  he neither  could  nor  would  pay,  and  that  he  would  ask  the  first  person  who should  pass,  whether  it  was  not  an  unreasonable  and  un-  just  demand. The case was referred to a policeman,(3)  who  happened  to  pass  at  that moment. He said to the sweep:  "As you have been feasting one of your senses with the odor of this man's meat(4), it is but just you should make him some recompense; therefore you shall(5), in your turn, regale one of his senses, which seems to be more insatiable than your appetite. How much money  have  you  ?" "I have but two pence in all the world, sir, and I must buy me some bread." "Never  mind,"  answered  tile  officer,  "take  your two pence between  your hands;  now  rattle  them  loudly." The sweep did so, and the officer, turning to the cook, said: "Now, sir,I think he has paid you: the smell of you victuals regaled his nostrils; the  sound  of  his  money  has  tick-  led  your  ears." This decision gave more satisfaction to the bystanders than to the cook, but  it  was  the  only  payment  he  could  obtain.