Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire- John Elwes, Esq..pdf/12

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butcher for a ſhilling. Sometimes he would walk on in the mire to meet them; and more than once he has gone on for the whole way to his farm, without ſtopping, which was 17 miles from London, after ſitting up the whole night! Had every man been of the mind of Mr. Elwes, the race of Innkeepers muſt have periſhed, and poſt chaiſes have been turned back to thoſe who made them; for it was the buſineſſ of his life to avoid both!

He always travelled on horſe back To ſee him ſetting out on a journey was a matter truly curious! His first care was to put two or three eggs, boiled hard, into his great coat pocket, or any ſcraps of bread which he found. His next attention was, to get out of London into that road where the turnpikes were the feweſt; thesn ſtopping under any hedge where graſs preſented itſelf for his horſe, and a little water for himſelf, he would ſit down and refreſh himſelf and his horſe together!

An inn upon the road, and an apothecary's bill, were equal objects of averſion to Mr. Elwes. The words Give and Pay, were not found in his vocabulary; and therefore, when he once received a very dangerous kick from one of his horſes, who fell in going over a leap, none could perſuade him any aſſiſtance He rode the chaſe through, with his leg cut to the bone! and it was only, some days afterwards, when it was feared an amputation would be neceſſary, that he conſented to go up to London, and, diſmal day! part with ſome of his money for advice.