[Picture: The Knife-grinder]
This man seems to be very busy, and it is but reasonable to suppose that
he may meet with many employers amongst the students of the law, and the
law-stationers, in and about the Temple: for as they use many pens, a
sharp knife must be quite needful for mending them. But I think he does
not confine himself to grinding knives only, but when wanting a job, he
cries, “Knives to grind! Scissors to grind! Razors to grind!”
Well! who would believe it? why, that is lazy Tom, turned knife-grinder
at last!
“Ay, master, and I never was so happy in my life. I thought, like a
foolish old fellow, that a beggar’s life must at least be an easy one;
but at last I found out, that, though I had nothing to do, I often had
nothing to eat. So, one day, I thought to myself, thinks I, ‘I’ve a vast
mind to bestir myself, and work for my living, for after all this idling,
I don’t see that I am much of a gentleman for it.’ So I bought this
grinding barrow, and began business for myself; and now I earn a
comfortable living, and am as happy as the day is long:
“And so every body who tries it, will find:
I wish you good morning, Sir—Scissors to grind!”