Page:Remarkable history of the miser of Berkshire.pdf/12

( 12 ) butcher for a hilling—Sometimes he would walk on in the mire to meet them; and more than once he has gone on foot the whole way to his farm, without topping, which was 17 miles from London, after itting up the whole night! Had every man been of the mind of Mr. Elwes, the race of Innkeepers mut have perihed; and pot chaies have been turned back to thoe who made them; for it was the buiness of his life to avoid both!

He always travelled on hore-back — To ee him etting out on a journey was a matter truly curious! His firt care was to put two or three eggs, boiled hard, into his great coat pocket, or any craps of bread which he found. — His next attention was, to get out of London into that road where the turnpikes were the fewet; then topping under any hedge where gras preented itelf for his hore, and a little water for himelf, he would it down and refreh himelf and his hore together!

An inn upon the road, and an apothecary's bill, were equal objects of averion 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 hores, who fell in going over a leap, none could peruade him to have any affitance --He rode the chae through, with his leg cut to the bone! and it was only some days afterwards, when it was feared an amputation would be neceary, that he conented to go up to London, and, dimal day! part with fome of his money for advice.