\"Iamnoclergyman，\"saidI，\"butIknewyouruncleandprizedhim。
Whatwashisnativeplace？\"
\"Corwen，\"saidtheman，thentakingouthishandkerchiefhewipedhiseyes，andsaidwithafalteringvoice：\"Thiswillbeheavynewsthere。\"
Wewerenowpastthemonastery，andbiddinghimfarewellI
descendedtothecanal，andreturnedhomebyitsbank，whilsttheWelshdrover，thenephewofthelearned，eloquentandexemplaryWelshdoctor，pursuedwithhisservantandanimalshiswaybythehighroadtoLlangollen。
ManysonsofWelshyeomenbroughtuptotheChurchhavebecomeornamentsofitindistantSaxonland，butfew，veryfew，havebylearning，eloquenceandChristianvirtuesreflectedsomuchlustreuponitasHughO—ofCorwen。
CHAPTERLVIII
SundayNight—Sleep，Sin，andOldAge—TheDream—LanikinFigure—ALiteraryPurchase。
THESundaymorningwasagloomyone。Iattendedserviceatchurchwithmyfamily。TheservicewasinEnglish，andtheyoungerMrE—
preached。ThetextIhaveforgotten，butIrememberperfectlywellthatthesermonwasscripturalandelegant。Whenwecameouttherainwasfallingintorrents。NeitherInormyfamilywenttochurchintheafternoon。IhoweverattendedtheeveningservicewhichisalwaysinWelsh。TheelderMrE—preached。Text，2Cor。
x。5。Thesermonwasanadmirableone，admonitory，patheticandhighlyeloquent；Iwenthomeverymuchedified，andedifiedmywifeandHenrietta，byrepeatingtotheminEnglishthegreaterpartofthediscoursewhichIhadbeenlisteningtoinWelsh。Aftersupper，inwhichIdidnotjoin，forInevertakesupper，providedIhavetakendinner，theywenttobedwhilstIremainedseatedbeforethefire，withmybacknearthetableandmyeyesfixedupontheemberswhichwererapidlyexpiring，andinthisposturesleepsurprisedme。AmongsttheproverbialsayingsoftheWelsh，whicharechieflypreservedintheshapeoftriads，isthefollowingone：
\"Threethingscomeunawaresuponaman，sleep，sin，andoldage。\"
Thissayingholdssometimesgoodwithrespecttosleepandoldage，butneverwithrespecttosin。Sindoesnotcomeunawaresuponaman：Godisjust，andwouldneverpunishaman，asHealwaysdoes，forbeingovercomebysinifsinwereabletotakehimunawares；
andneithersleepnoroldagealwayscomeunawaresuponaman。
Peoplefrequentlyfeelthemselvesgoingtosleepandfeeloldagestealinguponthem；thoughtherecanbenodoubtthatsleepandoldagesometimescomeunawares—oldagecameunawaresuponme；itwasonlytheotherdaythatIwasawarethatIwasold，thoughIhadlongbeenold，andsleepcameunawaresuponmeinthatchairinwhichIhadsatdownwithouttheslightestthoughtofsleeping。
AndthereasIsatIhadadream—whatdidIdreamabout？thesermon，musinguponwhichIhadbeenovercomebysleep？notabit！
Idreamtaboutawidely—differentmatter。MethoughtIwasinLlangollenfairintheplacewherethepigsweresold，inthemidstofWelshdrovers，immensehogsandimmensemenwhomItooktobethegentsofWolverhampton。Whathugefellowstheywere！almostashugeasthehogsforwhichtheyhiggled；thegeneralityofthemdressedinbrownsportingcoats，drabbreeches，yellow—toppedboots，splashedalloverwithmud，andwithlow—crownedbroad—
brimmedhats。Oneenormousfellowparticularlycaughtmynotice。
Iguessedhemusthaveweighedelevenscore，hehadahalf—ruddy，half—tallowyface，brownhair，andratherthinwhiskers。Hewashigglingwiththeproprietorofanimmensehog，andashehiggledhewheezedasifhehadadifficultyofrespiration，andfrequentlywipedoff，withadirty—whitepocket—handkerchief，dropsofperspirationwhichstooduponhisface。Atlastmethoughtheboughtthehogforninepounds，andhadnosoonerconcludedhisbargainthanturningroundtome，whowasstandingclosebystaringathim，heslappedmeontheshoulderwithahandofimmenseweight，cryingwithahalf—piping，half—wheezingvoice，\"Coom，neighbour，coom，Iandthouhaveoftendealt；gi’menooapoondformybargain，anditshallbeallthyown。\"Ifeltinagreatrageathisunceremoniousbehaviour，and，owingtotheflutterofmyspirits，whilstIwasthinkingwhetherornotIshouldtryandknockhimdown，Iawokeandfoundthefirenearlyoutandtheecclesiasticalcatseatedonmyshoulders。Thecreaturehadnotbeenturnedout，asitoughttohavebeen，beforemywifeanddaughterretired，andfeelingcoldhadgotuponthetableandthencehadsprunguponmybackforthesakeofthewarmthwhichitknewwastobefoundthere；andnodoubtthespringingonmyshouldersbytheecclesiasticalcatwaswhatItookinmydreamtobetheslaponmyshouldersbytheWolverhamptongent。
Thedayofthefairwasdullandgloomy，anexactcounterpartofthepreviousSaturday。OwingtosomecauseIdidnotgointothefairtillpastoneo’clock，andthenseeingneitherimmensehogsnorimmensemenIconcludedthatthegentsofWolverhamptonhadbeenthere，andafterpurchasingthelargerporkershaddepartedwiththeirbargainstotheirnativedistrict。AftersaunteringaboutalittletimeIreturnedhome。AfterdinnerIwentagainintothefairalongwithmywife；thestockbusinesshadlongbeenover，butIobservedmorestallsthaninthemorning，andafargreaterthrong，forthecountrypeopleformilesroundhadpouredintothelittletown。ByastallonwhichweresomepoorlegsandshouldersofmuttonIperceivedtheEnglishbutcher，whomtheWelshonehadattemptedtoslaughter。Irecognisedhimbyapatchwhichheworeonhischeek。MywifeandIwentupandinquiredhowhewas。Hesaidthathestillfeltpoorly，butthathehopedheshouldgetround。Iaskedhimifherememberedme；andreceivedforanswerthatherememberedhavingseenmewhentheexaminationtookplaceinto\"hismatter。\"Itheninquiredwhathadbecomeofhisantagonistandwastoldthathewasinprisonawaitinghistrial。IgatheredfromhimthathewasanativeoftheSouthdowncountryandashepherdbyprofession；thathehadbeenengagedbythesquireofPorkingtoninShropshiretolookafterhissheep，andthathehadlivedthereayearortwo，butbecomingtiredofhissituationhehadcometoLlangollen，wherehehadmarriedaWelshwomanandsetupasabutcher。Wetoldhimthatashewasourcountrymanweshouldbehappytodealwithhimsometimes；he，however，receivedtheinformationwithperfectapathy，neversomuchassaying\"thankyou。\"Hewasatalllanikinfigurewithapairoflarge，lack—lustrestaringeyes，anduponthewholeappearedtobegoodforverylittle。Leavinghimwewentsomewayuptheprincipalstreet；presentlymywifeturnedintoashop，andIobservingalittlebookstallwentuptoitandbegantoinspectthebooks。TheywerechieflyinWelsh。Seeingakindofchapbook，whichboreonitstitle—pagethenameofTwmO’rNant，Itookitup。ItwascalledYLlwynCelynortheHolyGrove，andcontainedthelifeandoneoftheinterludesofTomO’theDingleorThomasEdwards。Itpurportedtobethefirstoffournumbers，eachofwhichamongstotherthingswastocontainoneofhisinterludes。Theprice，ofthenumberwasoneshilling。I
questionedthemanofthestallabouttheothernumbers，butfoundthatthiswastheonlyonewhichhepossessed。Eager，however，toreadaninterludeofthecelebratedTom，Ipurchaseditandturnedawayfromthestall。ScarcelyhadIdonesowhenIsawawild—
lookingwomanwithtwowildchildrenlookingatme。Thewomancurtseyedtome，andIthoughtIrecognisedtheelderofthetwoIrishfemaleswhomIhadseeninthetentonthegreenmeadownearChester。Iwasgoingtoaddressher，butjustthenmywifecalledtomefromtheshopandIwenttoher，andwhenIreturnedtolookforthewomansheandherchildrenhaddisappeared，andthoughI
searchedaboutforherIcouldnotseeher，forwhichIwassorry，asIwishedverymuchtohavesomeconversationwithheraboutthewaysoftheIrishwanderers。Iwasthinkingofgoingtolookforherup\"Paddy’sdingle，\"butmywifemeetingme，beggedmetogohomewithher，asitwasgettinglate。SoIwenthomewithmybetterhalf，bearingmylateliteraryacquisitioninmyhand。
ThatnightIsatupverylatereadingthelifeofTwmO’rNant，writtenbyhimselfinchoiceWelsh，andhisinterludewhichwasstyled\"CyfoethaThylody；or，RichesandPoverty。\"ThelifeIhadreadinmyboyhoodinanoldWelshmagazine，andInowreaditagainwithgreatzest，andnowonder，asitisprobablythemostremarkableautobiographyeverpenned。TheinterludeIhadneverseenbefore，norindeedanyofthedramaticpiecesofTwmO’rNant，thoughIhadfrequentlywishedtoprocuresomeofthem—soIreadthepresentonewithgreateagerness。OfthelifeIshallgivesomeaccountandalsosomeextractsfromit，whichwillenablethereadertojudgeofTom’spersonalcharacter，andalsoanextractoftheinterlude，fromwhichthereadermayformatolerablycorrectideaofthepoeticalpowersofhimwhomhiscountrymendelighttocall\"theWelshShakespear。\"
CHAPTERLIX
HistoryofTwmO’rNant—EagernessforLearning—TheFirstInterlude—TheCruelFighter—RaisingWood—TheLucklessHour—
Turnpike—Keeping—DeathintheSnow—Tom’sGreatFeat—TheMuseaFriend—StrengthinOldAge—ResurrectionoftheDead。
\"IAMthefirst—bornofmyparents，\"saysThomasEdwards。\"Theywerepoorpeopleandveryignorant。IwasbroughtintotheworldinaplacecalledLowerPenParchell，onlandwhichoncebelongedtothecelebratedIoloGoch。MyparentsafterwardsremovedtotheNant（ordingle）nearNantglyn，situatedinaplacecalledCoomPernant。TheNantwasthemiddlemostofthreehomesteads，whichareintheCoom，andarecalledtheUpper，Middle，andLowerNant；
anditsohappenedthatintheUpperNanttherewerepeoplewhohadaboyofaboutthesameageasmyself，andforasmuchastheywerebettertodointheworldthanmyparents，theyhavingonlytwochildrenwhilstminehadten，IwascalledTomoftheDingle，whilsthewasdenominatedThomasWilliams。\"
Aftergivingsomeanecdotesofhischildhoodhegoesonthus：—
\"TimepassedontillIwasabouteightyearsold，andtheninthesummerIwasluckyenoughtobesenttoschoolforthreeweeks；andassoonasIhadlearnttospellandreadafewwordsIconceivedamightydesiretolearntowrite；soIwentinquestofelderberriestomakemeink，andmyfirstessayinwritingwastryingtocopyonthesidesoftheleavesofbooksthelettersofthewordsIread。
Ithappened，however，thatashopinthevillagecaughtfire，andthegreaterpartofitwasburnt，onlyafewtriflesbeingsaved，andamongstthescorchedarticlesmymothergotforapennyanumberofsheetsofpaperburntattheedges，andsewedthemtogethertoserveascopy—booksforme。WithoutlossoftimeI
wenttothesmithofWaendwysog，whowroteformethelettersontheupperpartoftheleaves；andcarefulenoughwasItofillthewholepaperwithscrawlingswhichlookedforalltheworldlikecrow’sfeet。Iwentongettingpaperandink，andsomethingtocopynowfromthisperson，andnowfromthat，untilIlearnedtoreadWelshandtowriteitatthesametime。\"
Hecopiedoutagreatmanycarolsandsongs，andtheneighboursobservinghisfondnessforlearningpersuadedhisfathertoallowhimtogotothevillageschooltolearnEnglish。Attheendofthreeweeks，however，hisfather，consideringthathewaslosinghistime，wouldallowhimtogonolonger，buttookhimintothefieldsinorderthattheboymightassisthiminhislabour。
NeverthelessTomwouldnotgiveuphisliterarypursuits，butcontinuedscribbling，andcopyingoutsongsandcarols。Whenhewasabouttenheformedanacquaintancewithanoldman，chapel—
readerinPentreyFoelas，whohadagreatmanyoldbooksinhispossession，whichheallowedTomtoread；hethenhadthehonourofbecominganamanuensistoapoet。
\"Ibecameveryintimate，\"sayshe，\"withamanwhowasapoet；hecouldneitherreadnorwrite；buthewasapoetbynature，havingamusewonderfullyglibatmakingtripletsandquartets。HewasnicknamedTumTaioftheMoor。HemadeanenglynformetoputinabookinwhichIwasinsertingalltheversesIcouldcollect：
\"’TomEvans’theladforhuntingupsongs，TomEvanstowhomthebestlearningbelongs；
Betwixthistwopasteboardsheverseshasgot，Sufficienttofillthewholecountry，Iwot。’
\"IwasinthehabitofwritingmynameTomorThomasEvansbeforeI
wenttoschoolforafortnightinordertolearnEnglish；butthenIalteredit，intoThomasEdwards，forEvanEdwardswasthenameofmyfather，andIshouldhavebeenmakingmyselfabastardhadI
continuedcallingmyselfbymyfirstname。However，Ihadthehonourofbeingsecretarytotheoldpoet。WhenhehadmadeasonghewouldkeepitinhismemorytillIcametohim。SometimesaftertheoldmanhadrepeatedhiscompositiontomeIwouldbegintodisputewithhim，askingwhetherthethingwouldnotbebetteranotherway，andhecouldhardlykeepfromflyingintoapassionwithmeforputtinghisworktothetorture。\"
Itwasthenthecustomforyoungladstogoaboutplayingwhatwerecalledinterludes，namelydramaticpiecesonreligiousormoralsubjects，writtenbyrusticpoets。ShortlyafterTomhadattainedtheageoftwelvehewentaboutwithcertainladsofNantglynplayingthesepieces，generallyactingthepartofagirl，because，ashesays，hehadthebestvoice。Aboutthistimehewroteaninterludehimself，foundedon\"JohnBunyan’sSpiritualCourtship，\"
whichwas，however，stolenfromhimbyayoungfellowfromAnglesey，alongwiththegreaterpartofthepoemsandpieceswhichhehadcopied。ThisaffairatfirstverymuchdisheartenedTom：
pluckinguphisspirits，however，hewentoncomposing，andsoonacquiredamongsthisneighboursthetitleof\"thepoet，\"tothegreatmortificationofhisparents，whowereanxioustoseehimbecomeanindustrioushusbandman。
\"BeforeIwasquitefourteen，\"sayshe，\"Ihadmadeanotherinterlude，butwhenmyfatherandmotherheardaboutittheydidalltheycouldtoinducemetodestroyit。However，Iwouldnotburnit，butgaveittoHughofLlangwin，acelebratedpoetofthetime，whotookittoLandyrnog，wherehesolditfortenshillingstotheladsoftheplace，whoperformeditthefollowingsummer；
butInevergotanythingformylabour，saveasupofalefromtheplayerswhenImetthem。Thisattheheelofotherthingswouldhaveinducedmetogiveuppoetry，haditbeeninthepowerofanythingtodoso。Imadetwointerludes，\"hecontinues，\"oneforthepeopleofLlanbedrintheValeofClwyd，andtheotherfortheladsofLlanarmoninYale，oneonthesubjectofNaaman’sleprosy，andtheotherabouthypocrisy，whichwasare—fashionmentoftheworkofRichardParryofDdiserth。WhenIwasyoungIhadsucharageormadnessforpoetizing，thatIwouldmakeasongonalmostanythingIsaw—anditwasamercythatmanydidnotkillmeorbreakmybones，onaccountofmyeviltongue。MyparentsoftentoldmeIshouldhavesomemischiefdonemeifIwentoninthewayinwhichIwasgoing。Onceonatimebeingwithsomecompanionsasbadasmyself，Ihappenedtousesomeveryfreelanguageinaplacewherethreeloverswerewithayounglassofmyneighbourhood，wholivedataplacecalledTyCelyn，withwhomtheykeptcompany。I
saidindiscoursethattheywerethecocksofTyCelyn。Thegirlheardme，andconceivedaspiteagainstmeonaccountofmyscurrilouslanguage。Shehadabrother，whowasacruelfighter；
hetookthepartofhissister，anddeterminedtochastiseme。OneSundayeveningheshoutedtomeasIwascomingfromNantglyn—ourwayswerethesametillwegotnearlyhome—hehaddeterminedtogivemeathrashing，andhehadwithhimapieceofoakstickjustsuitedforthepurpose。Afterwehadtauntedeachotherforsometime，aswewentalong，heflunghisstickontheground，andstrippedhimselfstarknaked。Itookoffmyhatandmyneck—cloth，andtookhisstickinmyhand，whereuponrunningtothehedgehetookastake，andstraightwesettoliketwofuries。Afterfightingsometime，ourstickswereshiveredtopiecesandquiteshort；sometimeswewereupontheground，butdidnotgiveupfightingonthataccount。Manypeoplecameupandwouldfainhavepartedus，buthewouldbynomeansletthem。Atlastweagreedtogoandpullfreshstakes，andthenwewentatitagainuntilhecouldnolongerstand。Themarksofthisbattleareuponhimandmetothisday。Atlast，coveredwithagoreofblood，hewasdraggedhomebyhisneighbours。Hewasinadreadfulcondition，andmanythoughthewoulddie。Onthemorrowtherecameanalarmthathewasdead，whereuponIescapedacrossthemountaintoPentreyFoelastotheoldmanSionDafyddtoreadhisoldbooks。\"
Afterstayingtherealittletime，andgettinghiswoundstendedbyanoldwoman，hedepartedandskulkedaboutinvariousplaces，doingnowandthenalittlework，untilhearinghisadversarywasrecovering，hereturnedtohishome。Hewentonwritingandperforminginterludestillhefellinlovewithayoungwomanratherreligiouslyinclined，whomhemarriedintheyear1763，whenhewasinhistwenty—fourthyear。TheyoungcouplesettleddownonalittleplacenearthetownofDenbigh，calledAleFowlio。Theykeptthreecowsandfourhorses。Thewifesuperintendedthecows，andTomwithhishorsescarriedwoodfromGwenynostoRuddlan，andsoonexcelledallothercarters\"inloadingandineverythingconnectedwiththemanagementofwood。\"Tomintheprideofhisheartmustneedsbehelpinghisfellow—carriers，whilstlabouringwiththemintheforests，tillhiswifetoldhimhewasafoolforhispains，andadvisedhimtogoandloadintheafternoon，whennobodywouldbeabout，offeringtogoandhelphim。Helistenedtoheradviceandtookherwithhim。
\"Thedearcreature，\"sayshe，\"assistedmeforsometime，butasshewaswithchild，andonthataccountnotexactlyfittoturntherollofthecranewithleversofiron，Iformedtheplanofhookingthehorsestotherope，inordertoraiseupthewoodwhichwastobeloaded，andbylongteachingthehorsestopullandtostop，I
contrivedtomakeloadingamucheasiertask，bothtomywifeandmyself。NowthiswasthefirsthookingofhorsestotheropeofthecranewhichwaseverdoneeitherinWalesorEngland。
SubsequentlyIhadplentyofleisureandrestinsteadoftoilingamidstothercarriers。\"
LeavingAleFowliohetookuphisabodenearertoDenbigh，andcontinuedcarryingwood。Severalofhishorsesdied，andhewassoonindifficulties，andwasgladtoacceptaninvitationfromcertainminersofthecountyofFlinttogoandplaythemaninterlude。Ashewasplayingthemonecalled\"AVisionoftheCourseoftheWorld，\"whichhehadwrittenfortheoccasion，andwhichwasfoundedon，andnamedafter，thefirstpartoftheworkofMasterEllisWyn，hewasarrestedatthesuitofoneMostynofCalcoed。He，however，gotbail，andpartlybycarryingandpartlybyplayinginterludes，soonraisedmoneyenoughtopayhisdebt。
Hethenmadeanotherinterlude，called\"RichesandPoverty，\"bywhichhegainedagreatdealofmoney。Hethenwrotetwoothers，onecalled\"TheThreeAssociatesofMan，namely，theWorld，Nature，andConscience；\"theotherentitled\"TheKing，theJustice，theBishopandtheHusbandman，\"bothofwhichheandcertainofhiscompanionsactedwithgreatsuccess。Afterhehadmadeallthathecouldbyactingthesepiecesheprintedthem。Whenprintedtheyhadaconsiderablesale，andTomwassoonabletosetupagainasacarter。Hewentoncartingandcarryingforupwardsoftwelveyears，attheendofwhichtimehewasworth，withonethingandtheother，upwardsofthreehundredpounds，whichwasconsideredaveryconsiderablepropertyaboutninetyyearsagoinWales。Hethen，inalucklesshour，\"when，\"tousehisownwords，\"hewasatleisureathome，likeKingDavidonthetopofhishouse，\"mixedhimselfupwiththeconcernsofanuncleofhis，abrotherofhisfather。Hefirstbecamebailforhim，andsubsequentlymadehimselfanswerablefortheamountofabill，duebyhisuncletoalawyer。Hisbecominganswerableforthebillnearlyprovedtheutterruinofourhero。Hisunclefailed，andlefthimtopayit。
Thelawyertookoutawritagainsthim。ItwouldhavebeenwellforTomifhehadpaidthemoneyatonce，buthewentondallyingandcompromisingwiththelawyer，tillhebecameterriblyinvolvedinhisweb。Toincreasehisdifficultiesworkbecameslack；soatlasthepackedhisthingsuponhiscarts，andwithhisfamily，consistingofhiswifeandthreedaughters，fledintoMontgomeryshire。Thelawyer，however，soongotinformationofhiswhereabouts，andthreatenedtoarresthim。Tom，aftertryinginvaintoarrangematterswithhim，fledintoSouthWales，toCarmarthenshire，wherehecarriedwoodforatimber—merchant，andkeptaturnpikegate，whichbelongedtothesameindividual。Butthe\"oldcancer\"stillfollowedhim，andhishorseswereseizedforthedebt。Hisneighbours，however，assistedhim，andboughtthehorsesinatalowpricewhentheywereputupforsale，andrestoredthemtohimforwhattheyhadgiven。Eventhenthematterwasnotsatisfactorilysettled，for，yearsafterwards，onthedeceaseofTom’sfather，thelawyerseizedupontheproperty，whichbylawdescendedtoTomO’rNant，andturnedhispooroldmotheroutuponthecoldmountain’sside。
ManystrangeadventuresoccurredtoTominSouthWales，butthosewhichbefellhimwhilstofficiatingasaturnpike—keeperwerecertainlythemostextraordinary。Ifwhathesaysbetrue，asofcourseitis—forwhoshallpresumetodoubtTomO’theDingle’sveracity？—whosoeverfillstheofficeofturnpike—keeperinWildWalesshouldbeapersonofveryconsiderablenerve。
\"Wewereinthehabitofseeing，\"saysTom，\"plentyofpassengersgoingthroughthegatewithoutpayingtoll；Imeansuchthingsasarecalledphantomsorillusions—sometimestherewerehearsesandmourningcoaches，sometimesfuneralprocessionsonfoot，thewholetobeseenasdistinctlyasanythingcouldbeseen，especiallyatnight—time。Isawmyselfonacertainnightahearsegothroughthegatewhilstitwasshut；Isawthehorsesandtheharness，thepostillion，andthecoachman，andthetuftsofhairsuchasareseenonthetopsofhearses，andIsawthewheelsscatteringthestonesintheroad，justasotherwheelswouldhavedone。ThenI
sawafuneralofthesamecharacter，foralltheworldlikearealfuneral；therewasthebierandtheblackdrapery。Ihaveseenmorethanone。Ifayoungmanwastobeburiedtherewouldbeawhitesheet，orsomethingthatlookedlikeone—andsometimesI
haveseenaflaringcandlegoingpast。
\"Onceatravellerpassingthroughthegatecalledouttome：
’Look！yonderisacorpsecandlecomingthroughthefieldsbesidethehighway。’Sowepaidattentiontoitasitmoved，makingapparentlytowardsthechurchfromtheotherside。Sometimesitwouldbequiteneartheroad，anothertimesomewayintothefields。Andsureenoughafterthelapseofalittletimeabodywasbroughtbyexactlythesameroutebywhichthecandlehadcome，owingtotheproperroadbeingblockedupwithsnow。
\"AnothertimetherehappenedagreatwonderconnectedwithanoldmanofCarmarthen，whowasinthehabitofcarryingfishtoBrecon，Menny，andMonmouth，andreturningwiththepoorerkindofGloucestercheese：mypeopleknewhewasontheroadandhadmadereadyforhim，theweatherbeingdreadful，windblowingandsnowdrifting。Well，inthemiddleofthenight，mydaughtersheardthevoiceoftheoldmanatthegate，andtheirmothercalledtothemtoopenitquick，andinvitetheoldmantocomeintothefire！
Oneofthegirlsgotupforthwith，butwhenshewentouttherewasnobodytobeseen。Onthemorrow，loandbehold！thebodyoftheoldmanwasbroughtpastonacouch，hehavingperishedinthesnowonthemountainofTre’rCastell。Nowthisisthetruthofthematter。\"
ManywonderfulfeatsdidTomperformconnectedwithloadingandcarrying，whichacquiredforhimthereputationofbeingthebestwoodcarterofthesouth。Hisdexterityatmovinghugebodieswasprobablyneverequalled。RobinsonCrusoewasnothalfsohandy。
Onlyseehowhemovedashipintothewater，whichamultitudeofpeoplewereunabletodo。
\"Afterkeepingthegatefortwoorthreeyears，\"sayshe，\"ItooktheleaseofapieceofgroundinLlandeiloFawrandbuiltahouseuponit，whichIgotlicensedasatavernformydaughterstokeep。
Imyselfwentoncarryingwoodasusual。Nowithappenedthatmyemployer，themerchantatAbermarlais，hadbuiltasmallshipofaboutthirtyorfortytonsinthewoodaboutamileandaquarterfromtheriverTowy，whichiscapableoffloatingsmallvesselsasfarasCarmarthen。Hehadresolvedthatthepeopleshoulddrawittotheriverbywayofsport，andhadcausedproclamationtobemadeinfourparishchurches，thatonsuchadayashipwouldbelaunchedatAbermarlais，andthatfoodanddrinkwouldbegiventoanyonewhowouldcomeandlendahandatthework。Fourhogsheadsofalewerebroached，agreatovenfullofbreadwasbaked，plentyofcheeseandbutterbought，andmeatcookedforthemorerespectablepeople。Theshipwasprovidedwithfourwheels，orratherfourgreatrollingstocks，fencedaboutwithiron，withgreatbigaxle—treesinthem，wellgreasedagainsttheappointedday。Ihadbeenloadinginthewoodthatday，andsendingtheteamforward，Iwenttoseethebusiness—andaprettypieceofbusinessitturnedout。Allthefoodwaseaten，thedrinkswallowedtothelastdrop，theshipdrawnaboutthreeroods，andthenleftinadeepditch。Bythistimenightwascomingon，andthemultitudewentaway，somedrunk，somehungryforwantoffood，butthegreaterpartlaughingasiftheywouldsplittheirsides。
Themerchantcriedlikeachild，bitterlylamentinghisfolly，andtoldmethatheshouldhavetotaketheshiptopiecesbeforehecouldevergetitoutoftheditch。
