_A frequent visitor about the streets of London._
From the unintelligible crying jargon this man utters, while
supplicating charity, one would be induced to suppose him ignorant
of the English language; but he possesses, at least, as perfect a
knowledge of it as most persons in his humble sphere.
[Illustration]
The use of his own native language is of great advantage to him, in
exciting the pity and fixing the attention of the passenger; and is,
besides, a great inducement to many to extend their charity to this
apparently distressed stranger. Indeed he exercises every art, and
leaves no method untried, to work upon the various dispositions of
those he supplicates. Very often he will preach to the spectators
gathered round him, presuming frequently to make mention of the name
of Jesus; and, sometimes, he will amuse another sort of auditors with
a song; and _when begging_, he always appears bent double, as if with
excessive pain and fatigue. But here again is another deception and
trick of a very shallow manufacture: for in the same day we have seen
him, when outward-bound, in the morning, so bent double as with a
_fixed_ affliction; but on his return home in the evening, after the
business of the day is closed, this black Toby reverses his position,
lays aside all his restraints, walks upright, and with as firm a step
as the nature of his loss will allow, begins talking English, and
ceases preaching. To all appearance, a daily and universal miracle
appears to be wrought; for scarcely are he and his jovial companions
assembled together in one place and with one accord; or rather
scarcely has liquor appeared upon the table, than the blind can
see--the dumb speak--the deaf hear--and the lame walk! Here, indeed,
as Pope has said, one might
"See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing:"
Or, as he has neatly said upon a more solemn occasion,
"Hear the dumb sing; the lame his crutch forego,
"And leap, exulting, like the bounding roe."
To descend from the imitations of these poetic strains, we add, that
to such assemblies[1] as those just described, Toby is a visiting
member, and is frequently called upon from the chair to amuse the
company; and as a beggar's life is avowedly made up of extremes, from
these midnight revels, he adjourns to a miserable two-penny lodging,
where, with the regular return of the morning, as a carpenter putteth
on his apron, or as a trowel is taken into the hand of a bricklayer;
even so Black Toby, laying aside all the freaks of the evening, again
sallies forth in quest of those objects of credulity, that will ever
be found in a population so extensive as that of this metropolis.
[1] From some such meetings as these, we suppose the
following circular club letter to have been issued:
"The company of all mumpers, cadjers, match-makers,
dandelion-diggers, dragon-fogrum-gatherers, water-cress-fishers,
and others, is earnestly requested, to-morrow evening, at
the Old Blind Beak's Head, in Dyot-street, St. Giles's, at
9 o'clock precisely. As the house has been altered, the
company will be accommodated with a large room up stairs;
but those who are not really lame, are desired to leave
their sticks and crutches at the bar, to prevent mischief.
After the admission of new members, the president will give
directions from the chair, for avoiding beadles and all
other unlucky persons; point out, for the benefit of country
members, the best parts for strolling, the method of making
artificial sores, &c.
"Mr. Nick Froth, the landlord, also informs his friends and
customers, that, on account of the many evening lectures and
methodist meetings, in the winter season, the club will meet
an hour later than usual. He will also allow sprats to be
broiled on the tap-room fire, let his boy fetch hogs' maws
and sheeps' heads.--And that he likewise sends strong beer
in white jugs or black tin pots (out of a blind) to any of
the stands, at a reasonable distance from his house.--
"N.B. A good stand to let, now occupied by a person who is
under the necessity of going into the Lock Hospital."
Toby was employed on board a merchantman, bound from Bermuda to Memel,
and in the voyage, from the severity of the weather and change of
climate, lost the whole of his toes in the passage. From Memel, he
found his way to England, on board the Lord Nelson privateer, and ever
since has supported himself by the improper charity he receives from
begging.