"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。