HereIinterruptedthejockey。\"Howsingular，\"saidI，\"isthefallanddebasementofwords；youtalkofagang，orset，ofshorters；youare，perhaps，notawarethatgangandsetwere，athousandyearsago，onlyconnectedwiththegreatandDivine；theyareancientNorsewords，whichmaybefoundintheheroicpoemsofthenorth，andintheEdda，acollectionofmythologicandheroicsongs。InthesepoemswereadthatsuchandsuchakinginvadedNorwaywithagangofheroes；orsoandso，forexample，ErikBloodaxe，wasadmittedtothesetofgods；butatpresentgangandsetaremerelyappliedtothevilestofthevile，andthelowestofthelow，—wesayagangofthievesandshorters，orasetofauthors。Howtouchingisthisdebasementofwordsinthecourseoftime；
itputsmeinmindofthedecayofoldhousesandnames。I
haveknownaMortimerwhowasahedgerandditcher，aBernerswhowasborninaworkhouse，andadescendantoftheDeBurghs，whoborethefalcon，mendingoldkettles，andmakinghorseandponyshoesinadingle。\"
\"Oddenough，\"saidthejockey；\"butyouweresayingyouknewoneBerners—manorwoman？Iwouldask。\"
\"Awoman，\"saidI。
\"WhatmightherChristiannamebe？\"saidthejockey。
\"Itisnottobementionedlightly，\"saidI，withasigh。
\"Ishouldn’twonderifitwereIsopel，\"saidthejockeywithanarchglanceofhisonebrillianteye。
\"ItwasIsopel，\"saidI；\"didyouknowIsopelBerners？\"
\"Ay，andhavereasontoknowher，\"saidthejockey，puttinghishandintohisleftwaistcoatpocket，asiftofeelforsomething，\"forshegavemewhatIbelievefewmencoulddo—
amostconfoundedwhopping。Butnow，Mr。RomanyRye，IhaveagaintotellyouthatIdon’tliketobeinterruptedwhenI’mspeaking，andtoaddthatifyoubreakinuponmeathirdtime，youandIshallquarrel。\"
\"Prayproceedwithyourstory，\"saidI；\"Iwillnotinterruptyouagain。\"
\"Good！\"saidthejockey。\"WherewasI？Oh，withasetofpeoplewhohadgivenuptheirmindstoshortening！Reducingthecoin，thoughratheralucrative，wasaverydangeroustrade。Coinfiledfeltroughtothetouch；coinclippedcouldbeeasilydetectedbytheeye；andasforcoinreducedbyaquafortis，itwasgenerallysodiscolouredthat，unlessagreatdealofpainswasusedtopolishit，peoplewereapttostareatitinastrangemanner，andtosay，’Whathavetheybeendoingtothisheregold？’Mygrandfather，asIhavesaidbefore，wasconnectedwithagangofshorters，andsometimesshortenedmoney，andatothertimespassedoffwhathadbeenshortenedbyothergentry。
\"Passingoffwhathadbeenshortenedbyotherswashisruin；
foronce，intryingtopassoffabroadpiecewhichhadbeenlaidinaquafortisforfour—and—twentyhours，andwasveryblack，nothavingbeenproperlyrectified，hewasstoppedandsearched，andotherreducedcoinsbeingfoundabouthim，andinhislodgings，hewascommittedtoprison，tried，andexecuted。Hewasofferedhislife，providedhewouldbetrayhiscomrades；buthetoldthebig—wigs，whowantedhimtodoso，thathewouldseethemfartherfirst，anddiedatTyburn，amidstthecheersofthepopulace，leavingmygrandmotherandfather，towhomhehadalwaysbeenakindhusbandandparent—for，settingasidethecrimeforwhichhesuffered，hewasamoralman；leavingthem，Isay，tobewailhisirreparableloss。
\"’Tissaidthatmisfortunenevercomesalone；thisis，however，notalwaysthecase。Shortlyaftermygrandfather’smisfortune，asmygrandmotherandhersonwerelivingingreatmiseryinSpitalfields，heronlyrelation—abrotherfromwhomshehadbeenestrangedsomeyears，onaccountofhermarriagewithmygrandfather，whohadbeeninaninferiorstationtoherself—died，leavingallhispropertytoherandthechild。Thispropertyconsistedofafarmofaboutahundredacres，withitsstock，andsomemoneybesides。Mygrandmother，whoknewsomethingofbusiness，instantlywentintothecountry，whereshefarmedthepropertyforherownbenefitandthatofherson，towhomshegaveaneducationsuitabletoapersoninhiscondition，tillhewasoldenoughtomanagethefarmhimself。Shortlyaftertheyoungmancameofage，mygrandmotherdied，andmyfather，inaboutayear，marriedthedaughterofafarmer，fromwhomheexpectedsomelittlefortune，butwhoverymuchdeceivedhim，becomingabankruptalmostimmediatelyafterthemarriageofhisdaughter，andhimselfandfamilygoingintotheworkhouse。
\"Mymother，however，mademyfatheranexcellentwife；andifmyfatherinthelongrundidnotdowellitwasnofaultofhers。Myfatherwasnotabadmanbynature，hewasofaneasy，generoustemper，themostunfortunatetemper，bythebye，forsuccessinthislifethatanypersoncanbepossessedof，asthosewhohaveitarealmostsuretobemadedupesofbythedesigning。But，thougheasyandgenerous，hewasanythingbutafool；hehadaquickandwittytongueofhisownwhenhechosetoexertit，andwoebetothosewhoinsultedhimopenly，fortherewasnotabetterboxerinthewholecountryround。MyparentsweremarriedseveralyearsbeforeIcameintotheworld，whowastheirfirstandonlychild。Imaybecalledanunfortunatecreature；Iwasbornwiththisbeamorscaleonmylefteye，whichdoesnotallowmetoseewithit；andthoughIcanseetolerablysharplywiththeother，indeedmorethanmostpeoplecanwithbothoftheirs，itisagreatmisfortunenottohavetwoeyeslikeotherpeople。Moreover，settingasidetheaffairofmyeye，Ihadaveryuglycountenance；mymouthbeingslightlywrungaside，andmycomplexionswarthy。Infact，Ilookedsoqueerthatthegossipsandneighbours，whentheyfirstsawme，sworeIwasachangeling—perhapsitwouldhavebeenwellifIhadneverbeenborn；formypoorfather，whohadbeenparticularlyanxioustohaveason，nosoonersawmethanheturnedaway，wenttotheneighbouringtown，anddidnotreturnfortwodays。IambynomeanscertainthatIwasnotthecauseofhisruin，fortillIcameintotheworldhewasfondofhishome，andattendedmuchtobusiness，butafterwardshewentfrequentlyintocompany，anddidnotseemtocaremuchabouthisaffairs：hewas，however，akindman，andwhenhiswifegavehimadviceneverstruckher，nordoI
everrememberthathekickedmewhenIcameinhisway，orsomuchascursedmyuglyface，thoughitwaseasytoseethathedidn’tover—likeme。WhenIwassixyearsoldIwassenttothevillage—school，whereIwassoonbookedforadunce，becausethemasterfounditimpossibletoteachmeeithertoreadorwrite。BeforeIhadbeenatschooltwoyears，however，Ihadbeatenboysfouryearsolderthanmyself，andcouldflingastonewithmylefthand（forifIamright—eyedIamleft—handed）higherandfartherthananyoneintheparish。Moreover，noboycouldequalmeatriding，andnopeopleridesowellordesperatelyasboys。Icouldrideadonkey—athingfarmoredifficulttoridethanahorse—atfullgallopoverhedgesandditches，seated，orratherfloatinguponhishinderpart，—so，thoughanythingbutclever，asthishereRomanyRyewouldsay，Iwasyetabletodothingswhichfewotherpeoplecoulddo。BythetimeIwastenmyfather’saffairshadgotintoaverydesperatecondition，forhehadtakentogamblingandhorse—racing，and，beingunsuccessful，hadsoldhisstock，mortgagedhisestate，andincurredveryseriousdebts。Theupshotwas，thatwithinalittletimeallhehadwasseized，himselfimprisoned，andmymotherandmyselfputintoacottagebelongingtotheparish，which，beingverycoldanddamp，wasthecauseofhercatchingafever，whichspeedilycarriedheroff。Iwasthenboundapprenticetoafarmer，inwhoseserviceIunderwentmuchcoarsetreatment，cold，andhunger。
\"Afterlyinginprisonneartwoyears，myfatherwasliberatedbyanActforthebenefitofinsolventdebtors；hewasthenlostsightofforsometime；atlast，however，hemadehisappearanceintheneighbourhooddressedlikeagentleman，andseeminglypossessedofplentyofmoney。Hecametoseeme，tookmeintoafield，andaskedmehowIwasgettingon。ItoldhimIwasdreadfullyused，andbeggedhimtotakemeawaywithhim；herefused，andtoldmetobesatisfiedwithmycondition，forthathecoulddonothingforme。Ihadagreatloveformyfather，andlikewiseagreatadmirationforhimonaccountofhischaracterasaboxer，theonlycharacterwhichboysingeneralregard，soIwishedmuchtobewithhim，independentlyofthedog’slifeIwasleadingwhereIwas；Ithereforesaidifhewouldnottakemewithhim，Iwouldfollowhim；herepliedthatImustdonosuchthing，forthatifIdid，itwouldbemyruin。Iaskedhimwhathemeant，buthemadenoreply，onlysayingthathewouldgoandspeaktothefarmer。Thentakingmewithhim，hewenttothefarmer，andinaverycivilmannersaidthatheunderstoodIhadnotbeenverykindlytreatedbyhim，buthehopedthatinfutureIshouldbeusedbetter。Thefarmeransweredinasurlytone，thatIhadbeenonlytoowelltreated，forthatIwasaworthlessyoungscoundrel；highwordsensued，andthefarmer，forgettingthekindofmanhehadtodealwith，checkedhimwithmygrandsire’smisfortune，andsaidhedeservedtobehangedlikehisfather。Inamomentmyfatherknockedhimdown，andonhisgettingup，gavehimaterriblebeating，thentakingmebythehandhehastenedaway；asweweregoingdownalanehesaidwewerenowbothdonefor：’Idon’tcareastrawforthat，father，’
saidI，’providedIbewithyou。’Myfathertookmetotheneighbouringtown，andgoingintotheyardofasmallinn，heorderedoutaponyandlightcartwhichbelongedtohim，thenpayinghisbill，hetoldmetomountupontheseat，andgettingupdroveawaylikelightning；wedroveforatleastsixhourswithoutstopping，tillwecametoacottagebythesideofaheath；weputtheponyandcartintoashed，andwentintothecottage，myfatherunlockingthedoorwithakeywhichhetookoutofhispocket；therewasnobodyinthecottagewhenwearrived，butshortlyaftertherecameamanandawoman，andthensomemorepeople，andbyteno’clockatnighttherewereadozenofusinthecottage。Thepeoplewerecompanionsofmyfather。MyfatherbegantalkingtotheminLatin，butIdidnotunderstandmuchofthediscourse，thoughIbelieveitwasaboutmyself，astheireyeswerefrequentlyturnedtome。Someobjectionsappearedtobemadetowhathesaid；however，allatlastseemedtobesettled，andweallsatdowntosomefood。Afterthat，allthepeoplegotupandwentaway，withtheexceptionofthewoman，whoremainedwithmyfatherandme。Thenextdaymyfatheralsodeparted，leavingmewiththewoman，tellingmebeforehewentthatshewouldteachmesomethingswhichitbehovedmetoknow。Iremainedwithherinthecottageupwardsofaweek；severalofthosewhohadbeentherecomingandgoing。Thewoman，aftermakingmetakeanoathtobefaithful，toldmethatthepeoplewhomIhadseenwereagangwhogottheirlivelihoodbypassingforgednotes，andthatmyfatherwasaprincipalmanamongstthem，adding，thatImustdomybesttoassistthem。Iwasapoorignorantchildatthattime，andImadenoobjection，thinkingthatwhatevermyfatherdidmustberight；thewomanthengavemesomeinstructionsinthesmasher’sdialectoftheLatinlanguage。
Imadegreatprogress，because，forthefirsttimeinmylife，Ipaidgreatattentiontomylessons。Atlastmyfatherreturned，and，aftersomeconversationwiththewoman，tookmeawayinhiscart。Ishallbeveryshortaboutwhathappenedtomyfatherandmyselfduringtwoyears。MyfatherdidhisbesttosmashtheBankofEnglandbypassingforgednotes，andIdidmybesttoassisthim。Weattendedracesandfairsinallkindsofdisguises；myfatherwasafirst—
ratehandatadisguise，andcouldappearofallages，fromtwentytofourscore；hewas，however，grabbedatlast。Hehadsaid，asIhavetoldyou，thatheshouldbemyruin，butIwasthecauseofhis，andallowingtothemisfortuneofthishereeyeofmine。WecametothisveryplaceofHorncastle，wheremyfatherpurchasedtwohorsesofayoungman，payingforthemwiththreeforgednotes，purportingtobeBankofEnglandersoffiftypoundseach，andgottheyoungmantochangeanotherofthelikeamount；heatthattimeappearedasarespectabledealer，andIashisson，asI
reallywas。
\"Assoonaswehadgotthehorses，weconveyedthemtooneoftheplacesofcallbelongingtoourgang，ofwhichtherewereseveral。Theretheyweredeliveredintothehandsofourcompanions，whospeedilysoldtheminadistantpartofthecountry。Thesumwhichtheyfetched—forthegangkeptveryregularaccounts—formedanimportantitemonthenextdayofsharing，ofwhichthereweretwelveintheyear。Theyoungman，whommyfatherhadpaidforthehorseswithhissmashingnotes，wassoonintroubleaboutthem，andransomerisk，asIheard，ofbeingexecuted；butheboreagoodcharacter，toldaplainstory，and，aboveall，hadfriends，andwasadmittedtobail；tooneofhisfriendshedescribedmyfatherandmyself。ThispersonhappenedtobeataninninYorkshire，wheremyfather，disguisedasaQuaker，attemptedtopassaforgednote。Thenotewasshowntothisindividual，whopronounceditaforgery，itbeingexactlysimilartothoseforwhichtheyoungmanhadbeenintrouble，andwhichhehadseen。Myfather，however，beingsupposedarespectableman，becausehewasdressedasaQuaker—theveryreason，bythebye，whyanybodywhoknewaughtoftheQuakerswouldhavesuspectedhimtobearogue—wouldhavebeenletgo，hadInotmademyappearance，dressedashisfootboy。Thefriendoftheyoungmanlookedatmyeye，andseizedholdofmyfather，whomadeadesperateresistance，I
assistinghim，asindutybound。Being，however，overpoweredbynumbers，hebademebyalook，andawordortwoinLatin，tomakemyselfscarce。Thoughmyheartwasfittobreak，I
obeyedmyfather，whowasspeedilycommitted。Ifollowedhimtothecountytowninwhichhewaslodged，whereshortlyafterIsawhimtried，convicted，andcondemned。Ithen，havingmadefriendswiththejailor’swife，visitedhiminhiscell，whereIfoundhimverymuchcastdown。Hesaid，thatmymotherhadappearedtohiminadream，andtalkedtohimaboutaresurrectionandChristJesus；therewasaBiblebeforehim，andhetoldmethechaplainhadjustbeenprayingwithhim。Hereproachedhimselfmuch，saying，hewasafraidhehadbeenmyruin，byteachingmebadhabits。Itoldhimnottosayanysuchthing，forthatIhadbeenthecauseofhis，owingtothemisfortuneofmyeye。Hebeggedmetogiveoverallunlawfulpursuits，saying，thatifpersistedin，theyweresureofbringingapersontodestruction。I
advisedhimtotryandmakehisescape，proposing，thatwhentheturnkeycametoletmeout，heshouldknockhimdown，andfighthiswayout，offeringtoassisthim；showinghimasmallsaw，withwhichoneofourcompanions，whowasintheneighbourhood，hadprovidedme，andwithwhichhecouldhavecutthroughhisfettersinfiveminutes；buthetoldmehehadnowishtoescape，andwasquitewillingtodie。Iwasratherhardatthattime；Iamnotverysoftnow；andIfeltratherashamedofmyfather’swantofwhatIcalledspirit。
Hewasnotexecutedafterall；forthechaplain，whowasconnectedwithagreatfamily，stoodhisfriend，andgothissentencecommuted，astheycallit，totransportation；andinordertomakethemattereasy，heinducedmyfathertomakesomevaluabledisclosureswithrespecttothesmashers’
system。IconfessthatIwouldhavebeenhangedbeforeI
wouldhavedoneso，afterhavingreapedtheprofitofit；
thatis，Ithinksonow，seatedcomfortablyinmyinn，withmybottleofchampagnebeforeme。He，however，didnotshowhimselfcarrion；hewouldnotbetrayhiscompanions，whohadbehavedveryhandsomelytohim，havinggiventhesonofalord，agreatbarrister，notahundred—poundforgedbill，butahundredhardguineas，topleadhiscause，andanotherten，toinducehim，afterpleading，toputhishandtohisbreast，andsay，that，uponhishonour，hebelievedtheprisoneratthebartobeanhonestandinjuredman。No；Iamgladtobeabletosay，thatmyfatherdidnotshowhimselfexactlycarrion，thoughIcouldalmosthavewishedhehadlethimself—However，IamherewithmybottleofchampagneandtheRomanyRye，andhewasinhiscell，withbreadandwaterandtheprisonchaplain。Hetookanaffectionateleaveofmebeforehewassentaway，givingmethreeoutoffiveguineas，allthemoneyhehadleft。Hewasakindman，butnotexactlyfittedtofillmygrandfather’sshoes。Iafterwardslearnedthathediedoffever，ashewasbeingcarriedacrossthesea。
\"Duringthe’sizesIhadmadeacquaintancewitholdFulcher。
Iwasinthetownonmyfather’saccount，andhewasthereonhisson’s，who，havingcommittedasmalllarceny，wasintrouble。YoungFulcher，however，unlikemyfather，gotoff，thoughhedidnotgivethesonofalordahundredguineastospeakforhim，andtenmoretopledgehissacredhonourforhishonesty，butgaveCounsellorP—one—and—twentyshillingstodefendhim，whosofrightenedtheprincipalevidence，aplainhonestfarming—man，thatheflatlycontradictedwhathehadfirstsaid，andatlastacknowledgedhimselftobealltheroguesintheworld，and，amongstotherthings，aperjuredvillain。OldFulcher，beforeheleftthetownwithhisson，—andhereitwillbewelltosaythatheandhissonleftitinakindoftriumph，thebasedrummerofamilitiaregiment，towhomtheyhadgivenhalf—a—crown，beatinghisdrumbeforethem—oldFulcher，Isay，askedmetogoandvisithim，tellingmewhere，atsuchatime，I
mightfindhimandhiscaravanandfamily；offering，ifI
thoughtfit，toteachmebasket—making：so，aftermyfatherhadbeensentoff，IwentandfoundupoldFulcher，andbecamehisapprenticeinthebasket—makingline。Istayedwithhimtillthetimeofhisdeath，whichhappenedinaboutthreemonths，travellingaboutwithhimandhisfamily，andlivingingreenlanes，wherewesawgypsiesandtrampers，andallkindsofstrangecharacters。OldFulcher，besidesbeinganindustriousbasket—maker，wasanout—and—outthief，aswasalsohisson，and，indeed，everymemberofhisfamily。Theyusedtomakebasketsduringtheday，andthieveduringagreatpartofthenight。IhadnotbeenwiththemtwelvehoursbeforeoldFulchertoldmethatImustthieveaswellastherest。Idemurredatfirst，forIrememberedthefateofmyfather，andwhathehadtoldmeaboutleavingoffbadcourses，butsoonallowedmyselftobeover—persuaded；moreespeciallyasthefirstrobberyIwasaskedtodowasafruitrobbery。IwastogowithyoungFulcher，andstealsomefineMorellcherries，whichgrewagainstawallinagentleman’sgarden；soyoungFulcherandIwentandstolethecherries，onehalfofwhichweate，andgavetheresttotheoldman，whosoldthemtoafruiterertenmilesofffromtheplacewherewehadstolenthem。ThenextnightoldFulchertookmeoutwithhimself。Hewasagreatthief，thoughinasmallway。Heusedtosay，thattheywerefools，whodidnotalwaysmanagetokeeptheropebelowtheirshoulders，bywhichhemeant，thatitwasnotadvisabletocommitarobbery，ordoanythingwhichcouldbringyoutothegallows。
Hewasallforpettylarceny，andknewwheretoputhishanduponanylittlethinginEngland，whichitwaspossibletosteal。IsubmitittothebetterjudgmentoftheRomanyRye，whoIseeisagreathandforwordsandnames，whetherheoughtnottohavebeencalledoldFilcher，insteadofFulcher。Ishan’tgivearegularaccountofthelarcenieshecommittedduringtheshorttimeIknewhim，eitheralonebyhimself，orwithmeandhisson。Ishallmerelyrelatethelast。
\"Amelancholygentleman，wholivedaverysolitarylife，hadalargecarpinashadypondinameadowclosetohishouse；
hewasexceedinglyfondofit，andusedtofeeditwithhisownhand，thecreaturebeingsotamethatitwouldputitssnoutoutofthewatertobefedwhenitwaswhistledto；
feedingandlookingathiscarpweretheonlypleasuresthepoormelancholygentlemanpossessed。OldFulcher—beingintheneighbourhood，andhavinganorderfromafishmongerforalargefish，whichwaswantedatagreatcitydinner，atwhichHisMajestywastobepresent—sworehewouldstealthecarp，andaskedmetogowithhim。Ihadheardofthegentleman’sfondnessforhiscreature，andbeggedhimtoletitbe，advisinghimtogoandstealsomeotherfish；butoldFulcherswore，andsaidhewouldhavethecarp，althoughitsmastershouldhanghimself；Itoldhimhemightgobyhimself，buthetookhissonandstolethecarp，whichweighedseventeenpounds。OldFulchergotthirtyshillingsforthecarp，whichIafterwardsheardwasmuchadmiredandrelishedbyHisMajesty。Themaster，however，ofthecarp，onlosinghisfavourite，becamemoremelancholythanever，andinalittletimehangedhimself。’What’ssportforone，isdeathtoanother，’Ionceheardatthevillage—schoolreadoutofacopy—book。
\"ThiswasthelastlarcenyoldFulcherevercommitted。Hecouldkeephisneckalwaysoutofthenoose，buthecouldnotalwayskeephislegoutofthetrap。Afewnightsafter，havingremovedtoadistance，hewenttoanosiercarinordertostealsomeosiersforhisbasket—making，forheneverboughtany。Ifollowedalittlewaybehind。OldFulcherhadfrequentlystolenosiersoutofthecar，whilstintheneighbourhood，butduringhisabsencetheproperty，ofwhichthecarwasapart，hadbeenlettoayounggentleman，agreathandforpreservinggame。OldFulcherhadnotgotfarintothecarbeforeheputhisfootintoaman—trap。
HearingoldFulchershriek，Iranup，andfoundhiminadreadfulcondition。PuttingalargestickwhichIcarriedintothejawsofthetrap，Icontrivedtoprizethemopen，andgetoldFulcher’slegout，butthelegwasbroken。SoI
rantothecaravan，andtoldyoungFulcherofwhathadhappened，andheandIhelpedhisfatherhome。Adoctorwassentfor，whosaidthatitwasnecessarytotakethelegoff，butoldFulcher，beingverymuchafraidofpain，saiditshouldnotbetakenoff，andthedoctorwentaway，butaftersomedays，oldFulcherbecomingworse，orderedthedoctortobesentfor，whocameandtookoffhisleg，butitwasthentoolate，mortificationhadcomeon，andinalittletimeoldFulcherdied。
\"ThusperishedoldFulcher；hewassucceededinhisbusinessbyhisson，youngFulcher，who，immediatelyafterthedeathofhisfather，wascalledoldFulcher，itbeingourEnglishcustomtocalleverybodyold，assoonastheirfathersareburied；youngFulcher—Imeanhewhohadbeencalledyoung，butwasnowoldFulcher—wantedmetogooutandcommitlarcenieswithhim；butItoldhimthatIwouldhavenothingmoretodowiththieving，havingseentheilleffectsofit，andthatIshouldleavetheminthemorning。OldFulcherbeggedmetothinkbetterofit，andhismotherjoinedwithhim。Theyoffered，ifIwouldstay，togivemeMaryFulcherasamort，tillsheandIwereoldenoughtoberegularlymarried，shebeingthedaughteroftheone，andthesisteroftheother。Ilikedthegirlverywell，forshehadalwaysbeenciviltome，andhadafaircomplexionandniceredhair，bothofwhichIlike，beingabitofablackmyself；
butIrefused，beingdeterminedtoseesomethingmoreoftheworldthanIcouldhopetodowiththeFulchers，and，moreover，tolivehonestly，whichIcouldneverdoalongwiththem。SothenextmorningIleftthem：Iwas，asIsaidbefore，quitedetermineduponanhonestlivelihood，andI
soonfoundone。HeisagreatfoolwhoiseverdishonestinEngland。Anypersonwhohasanynaturalgift，andeverybodyhassomenaturalgift，issureoffindingencouragementinthisnoblecountryofours，providedhewillbutexhibitit。
IhadnotwalkedmorethanthreemilesbeforeIcametoawonderfullyhighchurchsteeple，whichstoodclosebytheroad；Ilookedatthesteeple，andgoingtoaheapofsmoothpebbleswhichlaybytheroadside，Itookupsome，andthenwentintothechurchyard，andplacingmyselfjustbelowthetower，myrightfootrestingonaledge，abouttwofootfromtheground，I，withmylefthand—beingaleft—handedperson，doyousee—flungorchuckedupastone，which，lightingonthetopofthesteeple，whichwasatleastahundredandfiftyfeethigh，didthereremain。Afterrepeatingthisfeattwoorthreetimes，I’hulled’upastone，whichwentcleanoverthetower，andthenone，myrightfootstillontheledge，whichrisingatleastfiveyardsabovethesteeple，didfalldownjustatmyfeet。
Withoutknowingit，Iwasshowingoffmygifttoothersbesidesmyself，doingwhat，perhaps，notfivemeninEnglandcoulddo。Twomen，whowerepassingby，stoppedandlookedatmyproceedings，andwhenIhaddoneflingingcameintothechurchyard，and，afterpayingmeacomplimentonwhattheyhadseenmedo，proposedthatIshouldjoincompanywiththem；Iaskedthemwhotheywere，andtheytoldme。TheonewasHoppingNed，andtheotherBitingGiles。Bothhadtheirgifts，bywhichtheygottheirlivelihood；NedcouldhopahundredyardswithanymaninEngland，andGilescouldliftupwithhisteethanydresserorkitchen—tableinthecountry，and，standingerect，holditdanglinginhisjaws。
There’smanyabigoaktableanddresserincertaindistrictsofEngland，whichbearthemarksofGiles’steeth；andImakenodoubtthat，ahundredortwoyearshence，there’llbestrangestoriesaboutthosemarks，andthatpeoplewillpointthemoutasaproofthatthereweregiantsinbygonetime，andthatmanyadentistwillmoralizeonthedecayswhichhumanteethhaveundergone。
\"Theywantedmetogoaboutwiththem，andexhibitmygiftoccasionally，astheydidtheirs，promisingthatthemoneythatwasgotbytheexhibitionsshouldbehonestlydivided。
Iconsented，andwesetofftogether，andthateveningcomingtoavillage，andputtingupattheale—house，allthegrandfolksofthevillagebeingtheresmokingtheirpipes，wecontrivedtointroducethesubjectofhopping—theupshotbeingthatNedhoppedagainsttheschool—masterforapound，andbeathimhollow；shortlyafter，Giles，forawager，tookupthekitchentableinhisjaws，thoughhehadtopayashillingtothelandladyforthemarksheleft，whosegrandchildrenwillperhapsgetmoneybyexhibitingthem。Asformyself，Ididnothingthatday，butthenext，onwhichmycompanionsdidnothing，Ishowedoffathullingstonesagainstacripple，thecrackmanforstone—throwing，ofasmalltown，afewmilesfartheron。Betsweremadetothetuneofsomepounds；Icontrivedtobeatthecripple，andjustcontrived；fortodohimjusticeImustacknowledgehewasafirst—ratehandatstones，thoughhehadagamehip，andwentsideways；hishead，whenhewalked—ifhismovementscouldbecalledwalking—notbeingabovethreefeetabovetheground。Sowetravelled，Iandmycompanions，showingoffourgifts，GilesandIoccasionallyforagathering，butNedneverhopping，unlessagainstsomebodyforawager。Welivedhonestlyandcomfortably，makingnolittlemoneybyournaturalendowments，andwereknownoveragreatpartofEnglandas’HoppingNed，’’BitingGiles，’and’HullovertheHeadJack，’whichwasmyname，itbeingtheblackguardfashionoftheEnglish，doyousee，to—\"
HereIinterruptedthejockey。\"Youmaycallitablackguardfashion，\"saidI，\"andIdaresayitis，oritwouldscarcelybeEnglish；butitisanimmenselyancientone，andishandeddowntousfromournorthernancestry，especiallytheDanes，whowereinthehabitofgivingpeoplesurnames，orrathernicknames，fromsomequalityofbodyormind，butgenerallyfromsomedisadvantageouspeculiarityoffeature；forthereisnodenyingthattheEnglish，Norse，orwhateverwemaypleasetocallthem，areanenvious，depreciatorysetofpeople，whonotonlygivetheirpoorcomrades