Page:Brief relation of the adventures of Bamfylde Moore Carew (2).pdf/8

 8 the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt, and the water- newt; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, swallows the old rat and ditch dog : drinks the green mantle of the standing pool;

And mice and rats, and such like gear, Have been Tom's food for seven long year.

O do de, do de, do de! bless thee! from whirlwind, star-blasting, and taking! Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. - There I could have him now--and there !--and there !-and hero again !--and there !-Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind-—Tom's a cold !-who gives any thing to poor Tom?" In this character, with such-like expressions, lie entered the houses of both small and great, claiming kindred to them, and committing all kinds of frantic actions, such as beating himself, offering to eat coals of fire, running against the wall, and tearing to pieces whatever garments were given to him to cover his nakedness: by which means he raised considerable contributions. He never was more happy than when he was engaged in some adventure ; therefore he was always very diligent to enquire when any accident hap- pened, especially fire, to which he would immediately repair, and, getting information of the causes, names, trades, and circumstances of the unhappy sufferers, he would assume one of them, and burning some part of his clothes, by way of demonstration, run to some place distant, pass for one of them, gain credit, and get much profit. Under this character he had once the boldness to address a justice, who was the terror and professed enomy to all the gyp- sies, yet he so well managed the affair, that in a