Chapter TOBY to Tom Scott of T by Brewer's Readers Handbook

TOBY to Tom Scott

TOBY, waiter of the Spa hotel, St. Ronan’s, kept by Sandie Lawson.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).

Toby (A), a brown Rockingham-ware beer-jug, with the likeness of Toby Filpot embossed on its sides, “a goodly jug of well-browned clay, fashioned into the form of an old gentleman, atop of whose bald head was a fine froth answering to his wig” (ch. iv.).

Dear Friend, this brown jug which now foams with mild ale
…was once Toby Filpot, a thirsty old soul
As e’er cracked a bottle, or fathomed a bowl.
   —O’Keefe: Poor Soldier

Gabriel lifted Toby to his mouth, and took a hearty draught.—Dickens: Master Humphrey’s Clock (“Barnaby Rudge,” xii. 1841).

Toby, Punch’s dog, in the puppet-show exhibition of Punch and Judy.

In some versions of the great drama of Punch there is a small dog (a modern innovation), supposed to be the private property of that gentleman, and of the name of Toby—always Toby. This dog has been stolen in youth from another gentleman, and fraudulently sold to the confiding hero, who, having no guile himself, has no suspicion that it lurks in others; but Toby, entertaining a grateful recollection of his old master, and scorning to attach himself to any new patrons, not only refuses to smoke a pipe at the bidding of Punch, but (to mark his old fidelity more strongly) seizes him by the nose, and wrings the same with violence, at which instance of canine attachment the spectators are always deeply affected.—Dickens: Old Curiosity Shop, ch. xviii. (1840).

Toby, in the periodical called Punch, is represented as a grave, consequential, sullen, unsocial pug, perched on back volumes of the national Menippus, which he guards so stolidly that it would need a very bold heart to attempt to filch one. There is no reminiscence in this Toby, like that of his peep-show namesake, of any previous master, and no aversion to his present one. Punch himself is the very beau- idéal of good-natured satire and shrewdness.

N.B.—The first cover of immortal Punch was designed by A. S. Henning; the present one by Richard Doyle.

Toby, M.P., nom de plume of Mr. H. W. Lucy. He is the Baronite, and Baron de Bookworms, of Punch.

Toby (Uncle), a captain, who was wounded at the siege of Namur, and was obliged to retire from the service. He is the impersonation of kindness, benevolence, and simple-heartedness; his courage is undoubted, his gallantry delightful for its innocence and modesty. Nothing can exceed the grace of uncle Toby’s love-passages with the Widow Wadman. It is said that lieutenant Sterne (father of the novelist) was the prototype of uncle Toby.—Sterne: Tristram Shandy (1759).

My uncle Toby is one of the finest compliments ever paid to human nature. He is the most unoffending of God’s creatures, or, as the French would express it, un tel petit bonhomme. Of his bowling-green, his sieges, and his amours, who would say or think anything amiss?—Hazlitt.

Toby Veck, ticket-porter and jobman, nicknamed “Trotty” from his trotting pace. He was “a weak, small, spare man,” who loved to earn his money; and he heard the chimes ring words in accordance with his fancy, hopes, and fears. After a dinner of tripe, he lived for a time in a sort of dream, and woke up on New Year’s Day to dance at his daughter’s wedding.—Dickens: The Chimes (1844).

Todd (Laurie), a poor Scotch nailmaker, who emigrates to America, and, after some reverses of fortune, begins life again as a backwoodsman, and greatly prospers.—Galt: Laurie Todd.

Todgers (Mrs.), proprietress of a “commercial boarding-house;” weighed down with the overwhelming cares of “sauces, gravy,” and the wherewithal of providing for her lodgers. Mrs. Todgers had a “soft