FIRESIDE STORIES. 545

 

Like many other persons who have become suddenly possessed
of great wealth, Tom was sadly at a loss to know what to do
with his money ; nor does this sage history condescend to inform
us in what manner he expended it. He seems, however, to have
amused himself rarely, attending every sport he could hear of for
miles round, cracking skulls at cudgel-playing, bear-baiting, and
all the gentlemanly recreations current in those days. At football
he could scarcely have been a welcome addition to the company,
for one kick from his foot, if he caught it in the middle, was sure
to send the ball so great a distance over hedges and trees that
it was never seen again. Tom was, also, one evening attacked
by four robbers; but they sadly mistook the person they had to
deal with, for he quickly killed two of them, made the others sue
for mercy, and carried off their booty, which amounted to the
large sum of two hundred pounds. One would have thought the
Hickathrifts were wealthy enough before, but this addition to
their store was, somehow or other, a source of great delight and
merriment to Tom’s aged mother.

Tom was along time before he found any one that could match
him ; but, one day, going through his woods, he met with a lusty
tinker, who had a great staff on his shoulder, and a large dog to
carry his bag and tools. Tom was not particularly courteous:
it may readily be supposed that his unvarying successes had made
him rather overbearing; and he somewhat rudely asked the tinker
what was his business there. But the tinker was no man to suc-
cumb, and as rudely answered, “What’s that to you? Fools
must needs be meddling!” A quarrel was soon raised, and the
two laid on in good earnest, blow for blow, till the wood re-echoed

365