Page:Life of Daniel Dancer Esq..pdf/9

 ed the most striking picture of misery that can possibly be conceived.

At one period of his life, he used annually to purchase two shirts, but for several years preceding his death, he allowed himself only one. This he bought at some old clothes shop, and seldom exceeded half-a-crown in price.—After coming into his possession, it never underwent the operations of washing or mending, nor did he ever change it till it dropped from his back in rags. In making one of these purchases, he was involved in an affair which gave him no small trouble and uneasiness.—Being desired by the mistress of a shop, to which he went to purchase an old shirt, to mention his price, he told her, "as much under three shillings as possible." A shirt was accordingly produced, for which, after bargaining a long time, Dancer, as he declared, agreed to give two shillings and ninepence. He gave the woman three shillings, and waited for the change, but to his mortification and surprise, she refused to give any, positively asserting, that he had agreed to take the shirt at the price she had received. Remonstrances were vain, and to suffer such a diminution of his property without endeavouring to obtain redress, he regarded as criminal. He therefore summoned the woman to a court of conscience, and to support his claim made two journeys to own; but after a full hearing, the poor man