“He is thinking of Fatherland,” said the sympathizing Dolly; while Harry’s less refined but more sprightly comment was, that the nose had about played out.

Indeed it had almost ceased to wave; and I feared that I was about to lose a most valuable servant, whose place it would be impossible to fill.  Accordingly I wrote on a slip of paper, which I sent in to him,”—­

“You have done well, and I raise your salary to a dollar and a quarter a day.  Your influence over our unfortunate relative is soothing and beneficial.  Go on as you have begun,—­continue in well-doing, and merit the lasting gratitude of an afflicted family.”

That seemed to cheer him a little—­to wind him up, as Harry said, and set the pendulum swinging again.  But it was not long before the listlessness and low spirits returned; Menzel showed a sad tendency to shirk his duty; and before noon there came a crash.

I was in the garden, when I heard a shriek of rage and despair, and saw the little Jew coming toward me with frantic gestures.

“I yielt!  I abandone!  I take my moneys and my shirt, and I go!” says he.

I stood in perfect astonishment at hearing the dumb speak; while he threw his arms wildly above his head, exclaiming: 

“I am not teaf!  I am not teaf!  I am not teaf!  He is one terreeble mon!  He vill haf my life!  So I go—­I fly—­I take my moneys and my shirt—­I leafe him, I leafe your house!  I vould earn honest living, but—­Gott im himmel! dieu des dieux! all de devils!” he shrieked, mixing up several of his languages at once, in his violent mental agitation.

“Jacob Menzel!” said I, solemnly, “I little thought I was having to do with an impostor!”

“If I haf you deceive, I haf myself more dan punish!” was his reply.  “Now I resign de position.  I ask for de moneys and de shirt, and I part!”

Just then my uncle came up, amazed at his new friend’s sudden revolt and flight, and anxious to finish up with his seventh parish.  “I vill hear no more of your six, of your seven,—­I know not how many parish!” screamed the furious little Jew, turning on him.

“What means all this?” said my bewildered uncle.

“I tell you vat means it all!” the vindictive little impostor, tiptoeing up to him, yelled at his cheek.  “I make not vell my affairs in your country; I vould return to Faderlant; for conwenience I carry dis pappeer.  I come here; I am suppose teaf; I accept de position to be your companion, for if a man hear, you kill him tead soon vid your book and your ten, twenty parish!  I hear! you kill me! and I go!”

And, having obtained his moneys and his shirt, he went.  That is the last I ever saw of my little Iron-Clad.  I remember him with gratitude, for he did me good service, and he had but one fault, namely, that he was not iron-clad!

As for my uncle, for the first time in his life, I think, he said never a word, but stalked into the house.  Dolly soon came running out to ask what was the matter; Popworth was actually packing his carpet-bag!  I called Andrew, and ordered him to be in readiness with the buggy to take the old gentleman over to the railroad.