CHAPTEK XIX. 



THE DEVOTION OF THOMAS NED. 



" My Island was now peopled, and I thought myself rich in 

 Subjects ; and it was a merry Reflection which I frequently made 

 — how like a King I look'd." — Crusoe. 



When Thomas Ned first came before me in the 

 character of deliverer I did not closely scrutinize his 

 appearance or apparel, being a steadfast believer in 

 that old proverb, " Never look a gift horse in the 

 mouth." But, when he proposed to remain with me 

 as a servant and " Man Friday," I felt it my duty to 

 have an eye to his vesture, as one bound to responsi- 

 bility in his presentable appearance. It was more 

 from poverty than preference that he was ill clad, 

 and despite his rags he did not appear in filthy condi- 

 tion. 



He wore a shirt so very ragged that it hung from 

 his shoulders in tatters and strings, and was evidently 

 assumed, not so much for the service it rendered as a 

 shirt, as out of deference to the demands of civiliza- 

 tion. A reminder of a coat strove to hide the inner 

 garment, but was, like its owner, a skeletonized apol- 

 ogy, mainly consisting of detached pockets, filled with 



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