MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 41 



his beer house, and taking 1 up his quarters in 

 another, he had made no stipulation with his new 

 landlord as to the place where he was to sleep 

 at night ; and, judging from his ragged appear- 

 ance, he was thought unfit to be trusted as an 

 inmate without inquiry being made into his cha- 

 racter. I was, therefore, applied to by the 

 landlord, whom I satisfied by assuring him that, 

 notwithstanding the outward appearance of his 

 singular-looking guest, he might be trusted safely 

 even with untold gold. I further told him that 

 the man who could sleep upon the fallen leaves 

 in a wood wanted no bed in his house better than 

 a wooden seat, which would be as comfortable a 

 bed as he would wish for. Matters being now 

 perfectly settled, he was permitted, during his 

 rambles, to make this house his home. He had 

 been but a short time in this asylum until he got 

 a pretty numerous acquaintance amongst the 

 tradesmen who frequented the house, to whom 

 his singularity, his droll and witty stories, and 

 his songs, afforded great entertainment. Old age, 

 however, overtook him at last, and he was then 

 obliged to seek parish relief. On this occasion, 

 a neighbouring laird persuaded him that his settle- 

 ment was upon Eltringham, and prevailed on him 

 to swear to it. When he called upon the farmers 

 there for his pittance, and they convinced him 

 that he had sworn to what was false, he was much 

 shocked, and never called upon them again for 

 his pay. On being asked why he had not done 

 so, he said, " I would sooner have my hand cut 

 ..off, or be found dead on the highway through 

 want, than claim or receive money to which I am 

 not justly entitled." After this he wandered away 



