( 15 )
a mathematician to ſay what figure they deſcribed!
To ſave fire, he would walk about the remains of
an old green-houſe, or ſit with a ſervant in the
kitchen.—---During the harveſt, he would amuſe
himself with going into the fields to glean the corn
on the grounds of his own tenants; and they uſed
to leave a little more than common, to pleaſe the
old gentleman, who was as eager after it as any
pauper in the pariſh----In the advance of the ſeaſon,
his morning employment was to pick up any ſtray
chips, bones, or other things, to carry to the fire,
in his pocket; and he was one day ſurpriſed by
a neighbouring gentleman in the act of pulling down
a crow's neſt for this purpoſe! Oh the gentleman
cxpreſſing his ſurpriſe why he gave himſelf that
trouble, Oh, Sir, replied he, is is really a shame
that there creatures ſhould be allowed to do ſo.
Do but ſee what waſte they make!
He ſtill rode about the country on one of his
mares; and always kept her on the ſoft turf adjoining
the road, to ſave the expenſe of ſhoes ;
and, he ſaid, the turf was most pleaſant for her foot!
And when any gentleman called to pay him a viſit,
and the boy, who attended in the stables, was profuse
enough to put a little hay before his horſe,
old Elwes would ſlily ſteal back into the ſtable,
and take away the hay very carefully.
To ſave the expence of going to a butcher, he would have a whole ſheep killed and ſo eat mutton to the end of the chapter ---- When he occaſionally had his (illegible text) drawn, though, ſometimes
