Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/15

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as a present. The stew had become congealed during the night, and though he durst not eat till it was warmed for fear of the toothache, to which he was subject, yet he could not on any account afford the expence of a fire. The ingenious method by which he contrived to relieve himself from this embarrassment, is certainly worthy of admiration.-- The weather was frosty, and at such times he always lay in bed to keep himself warm, and he conceived that a similar mode of proceeding would produce the same effect on the fish. He accordingly directed it to be put, with the sauce, into a pewter plate, and covering it with another, placed them under his body, and sat upon them till the contents were sufficiently warmed! The latter part of Daniel's life was meliorated by the humanity and good-nature of his worthy and respectable neighbour. Lady Tempest presented him with a bed, and, at length actually prevailed upon him to throw away the sack in which he had slept for years. Being a sworn enemy to extravagence, he was careful to excess of the property of another. He could scarcely be prevailed upon, it is said, to touch a joint. He delighted in fragments and crusts; and, while indulging himself in these luxuries, muttered execrations against the devouring gluttony of modern times. He also evinced, on this occasion, a considerable