The Broad Highway

When a man has experienced some great and totally unexpected

reverse of fortune, has been swept from one plane of existence

to another, that he should fail at once to recognize the full

magnitude of that change is but natural, for his faculties must

of necessity be numbed more or less by its very suddenness.

Yesterday I had been reduced from affluence to poverty with an

unexpectedness that had dazed me for the time being, and, from

the poverty of an hour ago, I now found myself reduced to an

utter destitution, without the wherewithal to pay for the meanest

night's lodging. And, contrasting the careless ease of a few

days since with my present lamentable situation, I fell into a

gloomy meditation; and the longer I thought it over, the more

dejected I became. To be sure, I might apply to Sir Richard

for assistance, but my pride revolted at even the thought, more

especially at such an early stage; moreover, I had determined,

beforehand, to walk my appointed road unaided from the first.

From these depressing thoughts I was presently aroused by a loud,

rough voice at no great distance, to which, though I had been dimly

conscious of it for some time, I had before paid no attention.

Now, however, I raised my eyes from the spot upon the floor where

they had rested hitherto, and fixed them upon the speaker.

He was a square-shouldered, bullet-headed fellow, evidently held

in much respect by his companions, for he occupied the head of

the table, and I noticed that when ever he spoke the others held

their peace, and hung upon the words with an appearance of much

respect.

"'Yes, sirs,' says I," he began, louder than before, and with a

flourish of his long-stemmed pipe, "'yes, sirs, Tom Cragg's my

name an' craggy's my natur,' says I. 'I be 'ard, sirs, dey-vilish

'ard an' uncommon rocky! 'Ere's a face as likes good knocks,'

I says, 'w'y, when I fought Crib Burke o' Bristol 'e broke 'is

'and again' my jaw, so 'e did, an' I scarce knowed 'e'd 'it me till

I see 'im 'oppin' wi' the pain of it. Come, sirs,' says I, 'who'll

give me a black eye; a fiver's all I ask.' Well, up comes a young

buck, ready an' willin'. 'Tom,' says 'e, 'I'll take two flaps at

that figger-head o' yourn for seven guineas, come, what d'ye say?'

I says, 'done,' says I. So my fine gentleman lays by 'is 'at an'

cane, strips off 'is right-'and glove, an' 'eavin' back lets fly at

me. Bang comes 'is fist again' my jaw, an' there's my gentleman

a-dabbin' at 'is broken knuckles wi' 'is 'ankercher. 'Come, my

lord,' says I, 'fair is fair, take your other whack.' 'Damnation!'

says 'e, 'take your money an' go to the devil!' says 'e, 'I thought

you was flesh an' blood an' not cast iron!' 'Craggy, my lord,' says

I, gathering up the rhino, 'Cragg by name an' craggy by natur', my

lord,' says I."