-asthehappiestfellowbreathing，livingjustthelifeyoudescribedjustnow-respectedbyeverybodyinthisbeat；wheninanevilhourcomesthisBlackJack，thisflamingtinman，intotheseparts，drivenastheysayoutofYorkshire-fornogoodyoumaybesure。Nowthereisnobeatwillsupporttwotinkers，asyoudoubtlessknow；minewasagoodone，butitwouldnotsupporttheflyingtinkerandmyself，thoughifitwouldhavesupportedtwentyitwouldhavebeenallthesametotheflyingvillain，who’llbrooknoonebuthimself；sohepresentlyfindsmeout，andofferstofightmeforthebeat。Now，beingbredupontheroads，Icanfightalittle，thatiswithanythinglikemymatch，butIwasnotgoingtofighthim，whohappenstobetwicemysize，andsoItoldhim；
　　whereuponheknocksmedown，andwouldhavedonemefarthermischiefhadnotsomemenbeennighandpreventedhim；sohethreatenedtocutmythroat，andwenthisway。Well，Ididnotlikesuchusageatall，andwaswoundilyfrightened，andtriedtokeepasmuchoutofhiswayaspossible，goinganywherebutwhereI
　　thoughtIwaslikelytomeethim；andsureenoughforseveralmonthsIcontrivedtokeepoutofhisway。AtlastsomebodytoldmethathewasgonebacktoYorkshire，whereuponIwasgladatheart，andventuredtoshowmyself，goinghereandthereasIdidbefore。Well，youngman，itwasyesterdaythatIandminesetourselvesdowninalane，aboutfivemilesfromhere，andlightedourfire，andhadourdinner，andafterdinnerIsatdowntomendthreekettlesandafryingpanwhichthepeopleintheneighbourhoodhadgivenmetomend-for，asItoldyoubefore，I
　　haveagoodconnection，owingtomyhonesty。Well，asIsattherehardatwork，happyastheday’slong，andthinkingofanythingbutwhatwastohappen，whoshouldcomeupbutthisBlackJack，thiskingofthetinkers，rattlingalonginhiscart，withhiswife，thattheycallGreyMoll，byhisside-forthevillainhasgotawife，andamaid-servanttoo；thelastIneversaw，buttheythathas，saysthatsheisasbigasahouse，andyoung，andwelltolookat，whichcan’tbeallsaidofMoll，who，thoughshe’sbigenoughinallconscience，isneitheryoungnorhandsome。Well，nosoonerdoesheseemeandmine，than，givingthereinstoGreyMoll，hespringsoutofhiscart，andcomesstraightatme；notaworddidhesay，butonhecomesstraightatmelikeawildbull。
　　Iamaquietman，youngfellow，butIsawnowthatquietnesswouldbeofnouse，soIsprangupuponmylegs，andbeingbredupontheroads，andabletofightalittle，Isquaredashecamerunninginuponme，andhadaroundortwowithhim。Lordblessyou，youngman，itwaslikeaflyfightingwithanelephant-oneofthosebigbeaststheshow-folkscarryabout。Ihadnotachancewiththefellow，heknockedmehere，heknockedmethere，knockedmeintothehedge，andknockedmeoutagain。Iwasatmylastshifts，andmypoorwifesawit。Nowmypoorwife，thoughsheisasgentleasapigeon，hasyetaspiritofherown，andthoughshewasn’tbredupontheroads，canscratchalittle；sowhenshesawmeatmylastshifts，sheflewatthevillain-shecouldn’tbeartoseeherpartnermurdered-andscratchedthevillain’sface。Lordblessyou，youngman，shehadbetterhavebeenquiet：GreyMollnosoonersawwhatshewasabout，than，springingoutofthecart，whereshehadsatallalongperfectlyquiet，savealittlewhoopingandscreechingtoencourageherblade：-GreyMoll，IsaymyfleshcreepswhenIthinkofit-forIamakindhusband，andlovemypoorwife……
　　MYSELF。Takeanotherdraughtoftheale；youlookfrightened，anditwilldoyougood。Stoutliquormakesstoutheart，asthemansaysintheplay。
　　TINKER。That’strue，youngman；here’stoyou-wherewasI？GreyMollnosoonersawwhatmywifewasabout，than，springingoutofthecart，sheflewatmypoorwife，clawedoffherbonnetinamoment，andseizedholdofherhair。Lordblessyou，youngman，mypoorwife，inthehandsofGreyMoll，wasnothingbetterthanapigeonintheclawsofabuzzardhawk，orIinthehandsoftheFlamingTinman，whichwhenIsaw，myheartwasfittoburst，andI
　　determinedtogiveupeverything-everythingtosavemypoorwifeoutofGreyMoll’sclaws。’Hold!’Ishouted。’Hold，bothofyou-
　　Jack，Moll。Hold，bothofyou，forGod’ssake，andI’lldowhatyouwill：giveuptrade，andbusiness，connection，bread，andeverything，nevermoretraveltheroads，andgodownonmykneestoyouinthebargain。’Well，thishadsomeeffect；Mollletgomywife，andtheBlazingTinmanstoppedforamoment；itwasonlyforamoment，however，thatheleftoff-allofasuddenhehitmeablowwhichsentmeagainstatree；andwhatdidthevillainthen？
　　whytheflyingvillainseizedmebythethroat，andalmostthrottledme，roaring-whatdoyouthink，youngman，thattheflamingvillainroaredout？
　　MYSELF。Ireallydon’tknow-somethinghorrible，Isuppose。
　　TINKER。Horrible，indeed；youmaywellsayhorrible，youngman；
　　neithermorenorlessthantheBible-’ABible，aBible!’roaredtheBlazingTinman；andhepressedmythroatsohardagainstthetreethatmysensesbegantodwaulaway-aBible，aBible，stillringinginmyears。Now，youngman，mypoorwifeisaChristianwoman，and，thoughshetravelstheroads，carriesaBiblewithheratthebottomofhersack，withwhichsometimessheteachesthechildrentoread-itwastheonlythingshebroughtwithherfromtheplaceofherkithandkin，saveherownbodyandtheclothesonherback；somypoorwife，halfdistracted，runstohersack，pullsouttheBible，andputsitintothehandoftheBlazingTinman，whothenthruststheendofitintomymouthwithsuchfurythatitmademylipsbleed，andbrokeshortoneofmyteethwhichhappenedtobedecayed。’Swear，’saidhe，’swear，youmumpingvillain，takeyourBibleoaththatyouwillquitandgiveupthebeataltogether，orI’ll-andthenthehard-heartedvillainmademeswearbytheBible，andmyowndamnation，half-throttledasIwas，to-to-I
　　can’tgoon-
　　MYSELF。Takeanotherdraught-stoutliquor-
　　TINKER。Ican’t，youngman，myheart’stoofull，andwhat’smore，thepitcherisempty。
　　MYSELF。Andsohesworeyou，Isuppose，ontheBible，toquittheroads？
　　TINKER。Youareright，hedidso，thegypsyvillain。
　　MYSELF。Gypsy!Isheagypsy？
　　TINKER。Notexactly；whattheycallahalf-and-half。Hisfatherwasagypsy，andhismother，likemine，onewhowalkedtheroads。
　　MYSELF。IsheoftheSmiths-thePetulengres？
　　TINKER。Isay，youngman，youknowathingortwo；onewouldthink，tohearyoutalk，youhadbeenbredupontheroads。I
　　thoughtnonebutthosebredupontheroadsknewanythingofthatname-Petulengres!No，nothe，hefightsthePetulengreswheneverhemeetsthem；helikesnobodybuthimself，andwantstobekingoftheroads。IbelieveheisaBoss，ora-atanyratehe’sabadone，asIknowtomycost。
　　MYSELF。Andwhatareyougoingtodo？
　　TINKER。Do!youmaywellaskthat；Idon’tknowwhattodo。MypoorwifeandIhavebeentalkingofthatallthemorning，overthathalf-pintmugofbeer；wecan’tdetermineonwhat’stobedone。Allweknowis，thatwemustquittheroads。Thevillainsworethatthenexttimehesawusontheroadshe’dcutallourthroats，andseizeourhorseandbitofacartthatarenowstandingoutthereunderthetree。
　　MYSELF。Andwhatdoyoumeantodowithyourhorseandcart？
　　TINKER。Anotherquestion!Whatshallwedowithourcartandpony？theyareofnousetousnow。StayontheroadsIwillnot，bothformyoath’ssakeandmyown。Ifwehadatrifleofmoney，wewerethinkingofgoingtoBristol，whereImightgetupalittlebusiness，butwehavenone；ourlastthreefarthingswespentaboutthemugofbeer。
　　MYSELF。Butwhydon’tyousellyourhorseandcart？
　　TINKER。Sellthem!andwhowouldbuythem，unlesssomeonewhowishedtosetupinmyline；butthere’snobeat，andwhat’stheuseofthehorseandcartandthefewtoolswithoutthebeat？
　　MYSELF。I’mhalfinclinedtobuyyourcartandpony，andyourbeattoo。
　　TINKER。You!Howcameyoutothinkofsuchathing？
　　MYSELF。Why，likeyourself，Ihardlyknowwhattodo。Iwantahomeandwork。Asforahome，IsupposeIcancontrivetomakeahomeoutofyourtentandcart；andasforwork，Imustlearntobeatinker，itwouldnotbehardforoneofmytradetolearntotinker；whatbettercanIdo？WouldyouhavemegotoChesterandworktherenow？Idon’tlikethethoughtsofit。IfIgotoChesterandworkthere，Ican’tbemyownman；Imustworkunderamaster，andperhapsheandIshouldquarrel，andwhenIquarrelI
　　amapttohitfolks，andthosethathitfolksaresometimessenttoprison；Idon’tlikethethoughteitherofgoingtoChesterortoChesterprison。WhatdoyouthinkIcouldearnatChester？
　　TINKER。Amatterofelevenshillingsaweek，ifanybodywouldemployyou，whichIdon’tthinktheywouldwiththosehandsofyours。Butwhethertheywouldornot，ifyouareofaquarrelsomenatureyoumustnotgotoChester；youwouldbeinthecastleinnotime。Idon’tknowhowtoadviseyou。Asforsellingyoumystock，I’dseeyoufartherfirst，foryourownsake。
　　MYSELF。Why？
　　TINKER。Why!youwouldgetyourheadknockedoff。Supposeyouweretomeethim？
　　MYSELF。Pooh，don’tbeafraidonmyaccount；ifIweretomeethimIcouldeasilymanagehimonewayorother。Iknowallkindsofstrangewordsandnames，and，asItoldyoubefore，Isometimeshitpeoplewhentheyputmeout。
　　Herethetinker’swife，whoforsomeminutespasthadbeenlisteningattentivelytoourdiscourse，interposed，saying，inalowsofttone：’Ireallydon’tsee，John，whyyoushouldn’tselltheyoungmanthethings，seeingthathewishesforthem，andissoconfident；youhavetoldhimplainlyhowmattersstand，andifanythingillshouldbefallhim，peoplecouldn’tlaytheblameonyou；butIdon’tthinkanyillwillbefallhim，andwhoknowsbutGodhassenthimtoourassistanceintimeofneed？’
　　’I’llhearofnosuchthing，’saidthetinker；’Ihavedrunkattheyoungman’sexpense，andthoughhesayshe’squarrelsome，Iwouldnotwishtositinpleasantercompany。AprettyfellowIshouldbe，now，ifIweretolethimfollowhisownwill。Ifheoncesetsuponmybeat，he’salostman，hisribswillbestovein，andhisheadknockedoffhisshoulders。There，youarecrying，butyoushan’thaveyourwillthough；Iwon’tbetheyoungman’sdestruction……If，indeed，Ithoughthecouldmanagethetinker-buthenevercan；hesayshecanhit，butit’snousehittingthetinker，-cryingstill!youareenoughtodriveonemad。Isay，youngman，Ibelieveyouunderstandathingortwo，justnowyouweretalkingofknowinghardwordsandnames-Idon’twishtosendyoutoyourmischief-yousayyouknowhardwordsandnames；letussee。OnlyononeconditionI’llsellyoutheponyandthings；