FIRESIDE STORIES. . BAI

 

rope in a right position, rapidly made up a bundle containing at
least a cartload, the men jeering him on the absurdity of raising
a pile they imagined no man cculd carry, and maliciously asking
him if his rope was long enough. Their merriment, however, was
not of long duration, for Tom flung the enormous bundle over his
shoulders, and walked away with it without any apparent exertion,
much to the astonishment and dismay of the master and his
men.

After this exploit, Tom was no longer suffered to enjoy his idle
humours. Every one was endeavouring to secure his services,
and we are told many remarkable tales of his extraordinary
strength, still more wonderful than the one just related. On one
occasion, having been offered as great a bundle of firewood as he
could carry, he marched off with one of the largest trees in the
forest. Tom was also extremely fond of attending fairs; and in
cudgelling, wrestling, or throwing the hammer, there was no one
who could compete with him. He thought nothing of flinging
a huge hammer into the middle of a river a mile off, and, in fact,
performed such extraordinary feats, that it was currently reported
throughout the country he had dealings with the Evil One.

Tom Hickathrift, too, was a very care-for-nothing fellow, and
there were very few persons in all the Isle of Ely who dared to
give him an ill word. ‘Those who did paid very dearly for their
impertinence, and Tom was, in fact, paramount over his com-
panions. His great strength, however, caused him to be much
sought after by those who were in want of efficient labour, and
at length a brewer at Lynn, who required a strong lusty fellow
to carry his beer to the Marsh and to Wisbeach, after much per-