It keepeth men from grievous stryfe
When every man for hymself shall pay.
As I ryde in ryche array
For gold and sylver men wyll me floryshe;
By thys matter I dare well saye,
Ever gramercy myne owne purse.
BOOK OF HUNTING.
On the skirts of the neighbouring village there lives a kind of small potentate2, who, for aught I know, is a representative of one of the most ancient legitimate3 lines of the present day; for the empire over which he reigns4 has belonged to his family time out of mind. His territories comprise a considerable number of good fat acres; and his seat of power is an old farm-house, where he enjoys, unmolested, the stout5 oaken chair of his ancestors. The personage to whom I allude6 is a sturdy old yeoman of the name of John Tibbets, or rather Ready-Money Jack7 Tibbets, as he is called throughout the neighbourhood.
The first place where he attracted my attention was in the churchyard on Sunday; where he sat on a tombstone after service, with his hat a little on one side, holding forth9 to a small circle of auditors10, and, as I presumed, expounding11 the law and the prophets, until, on drawing a little nearer, I found he was only expatiating12 on the merits of a brown horse. He presented so faithful a picture of a substantial English yeoman, such as he is often described in books, heightened, indeed, by some little finery peculiar13 to himself, that I could not but take note of his whole appearance.
He was between fifty and sixty, of a strong muscular frame, and at least six feet high, with a physiognomy as grave as a lion's, and set off with short, curling, iron-gray locks. His shirt-collar was turned down, and displayed a neck covered with the same short, curling, gray hair; and he wore a coloured silk neckcloth, tied very loosely, and tucked in at the bosom14, with a green paste brooch on the knot. His coat was of dark-green cloth, with silver buttons, on each of which was engraved15 a stag, with his own name, John Tibbets, underneath16. He had an inner waistcoat of figured chintz, between which and his coat was another of scarlet17 cloth unbuttoned. His breeches were also left unbuttoned at the knees, not from any slovenliness18, but to show a broad pair of scarlet garters. His stockings were blue, with white clocks; he wore large silver shoe-buckles; a broad paste buckle19 in his hatband; his sleeve buttons were gold seven-shilling pieces; and he had two or three guineas hanging as ornaments20 to his watch-chain.
On making some inquiries21 about him, I gathered that he was descended22 from a line of farmers that had always lived on the same spot, and owned the same property; and that half of the churchyard was taken up with the tombstones of his race. He has all his life been an important character in the place. When a youngster, he was one of the most roaring blades of the neighbourhood. No one could match him at wrestling, pitching the bar, cudgel play, and other athletic23 exercises. Like the renowned25 Pinner of Wakefield, he was the village champion; carried off the prize at all the fairs, and threw his gauntlet at the country round. Even to this day the old people talk of his prowess, and undervalue, in comparison, all heroes of the green that have succeeded him; nay26, they say that if Ready-Money Jack were to take the field even now, there is no one could stand before him.
When Jack's father died, the neighbours shook their heads, and predicted that young Hopeful would soon make way with the old homestead; but Jack falsified all their predictions. The moment he succeeded to the paternal27 farm he assumed a new character; took a wife; attended resolutely28 to his affairs, and became an industrious29, thrifty30 farmer. With the family property he inherited a set of old family maxims32, to which he steadily34 adhered. He saw to everything himself; put his own hand to the plough; worked hard; ate heartily35; slept soundly; paid for everything in cash down; and never danced except he could do it to the music of his own money in both pockets. He has never been without a hundred or two pounds in gold by him, and never allows a debt to stand unpaid36. This has gained him his current name, of which, by the by, he is a little proud; and has caused him to be looked upon as a very wealthy man by all the village.
Notwithstanding his thrift31, however, he has never denied himself the amusements of life, but has taken a share in every passing pleasure. It is his maxim33, that "he that works hard can afford to play." He is, therefore, an attendant at all the country fairs and wakes, and has signalised himself by feats37 of strength and prowess on every village green in the shire. He often makes his appearance at horse-races, and sports his half-guinea and even his guinea at a time; keeps a good horse for his own riding, and to this day is fond of following the hounds, and is generally in at the death. He keeps up the rustic38 revels39, and hospitalities too, for which his paternal farm-house has always been
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