Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/10

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was not only nonsuited, but obliged to pay the coasts of the court, to the enormous amount of five shillings. To add to his vexation, his two journeys had put him to the additional expence of three-pence more: for it can scarcely be supposed that a man of his age and wealth could travel on foot fifteen miles, and back again on the same day, without the extraordinary indulgence of a penny-worth of bread and cheese, and a half-penny-worth of small beer. At this time Mr Dancer was in the possession of property to the amount of 3000l a year! When his sister died, he had a pair of sheets on his bed, which he would never suffer to be removed: but lay in them till they were worn out. He would not allow his house to be cleaned, and the room in which he lived was nearly filled with sticks he had collected from his neighbours' hedges. He was for many years his own cobler, and the last pair of shoes he wore had become so large and ponderous, from the frequent soles and coverings they had received, that they rather resembled hog-troughs than shoes. Such was his attention to parsimony in everything that could in the smallest degree contribute to his advantage, that when obliged to relieve the wants of nature, he would rather walk two miles than not assist in manuring his own lands. He gathered in his rambles