Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire- John Elwes, Esq..pdf/13

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One day he put his eldeſt boy upon a ladder, to get ſome grapes for the table, when, by the ladder ſlipping, he fell down, and hurt his ſide ; The boy had the precaution to go to a Surgeon and get blooded. On his return, his father aſked where he had been, and what was the matter with his arm ? He told him that he had got bled.---— Bled! bledǃ ſaid the old gentleman : But what did you give ? A ſhilling, anſwered the boy.—--Pſhaw! returned the father, you are a blockhead ! Never part with your blood and money together.

In the penury of Mr. Elwes, there was ſomething that ſeemed like a judgment from heaven! for all earthly comforts he voluntarily denied himſelf He would walk home in the rain in London, rather than pay a ſhilling for a coach He would ſit with wet cloaths, rather than be at the expence of a fire to dry them —-- He would eat his provisions in the laſt ſtage of putrefaction, rather than be at the expence of purchaſing a freſh joint from the butcher. And he wore a wig for above a fortnight, which he picked up out of a rut in a lane.—--- This was the alt extremity of laudable economy ! for, to all appearance, it was the caſt-off wig of ſome beggar! The day in which he firſt appeared in this ornamental dreſs, exceeded ail the power of farce ! for he had torn a brown coat, 'which he generally wore, and had therefore been obliged to have recourſe to the old cheſt of Sir Jervaiſe, from whence he had ſelected a full-dreſſed green velvet coat, with flaſhed ſleeves; and there he ſat at dinner in boots, the aforeſaid green velvet coat, his own white hair