1 8 MKMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 



dash, overhead into the river ! They, however, 

 happened to be no worse for it ; for they were 

 driven down by the rapid current of the flood, and 

 landed safely at a distance below. This exploit, 

 happening on a Sunday forenoon, was an aggra- 

 vation of the crime. 



After this my father mostly took me with him to 

 church, but while there, except shouting as loud 

 as I could, while the Psalms were singing, there 

 was little to engage my attention. I therefore 

 employed myself in almost constantly drawing 

 various figures upon the soft, painted bookboard 

 with a pin. In doing this, no one noticed me, 

 especially as I held down my head ; and, having 

 got the church service off, I repeated it the same 

 as the congregation. This apparently regular 

 behaviour was not, however, of long duration, and 

 was broken in upon at last. Sunday after Sunday 

 a clownish fellow had obtruded himself into our 

 pew. I did not think this quite right, and wished 

 to put an end to it ; and this happened in a very 

 rude way in the end. A dumb man (" Dummy, of 

 Wylam"), a constant church-goer, had a seat in the 

 pew before ours, where, regularly during the service, 

 he fell fast asleep. When in that state, and sitting 

 right before our obtruder, I reached aside, and 

 gave "Dummy" a smart blow on the head, and 

 instantly, as if I knew nothing of the matter, I 

 seemed to be quite grave, and intent on looking on 

 my prayer book, while the fellow was putting on a 

 broad grin. At this poor Dummy was enraged, 

 and with a distorted countenance, he kept thump- 

 ing the man on the face and head, at the same time 

 making a hideous noise, which was heightened by 

 the fellow's shouting, and calling him "fool/' at 



