stand you," said I, "I wish you would explain yourself more
clearly." "I was riding on my ass from market," said the old man, "when
I met here a fellow with a sack on his back, who, after staring at the
ass and me a moment or two, asked me if I would sell her. I told him
that I could not think of selling her, as she was very useful to me, and
though an animal, my true companion, whom I loved as much as if she were
my wife and daughter. I then attempted to pass on, but the fellow stood
before me, begging me to sell her, saying that he would give me anything
for her; well, seeing that he persisted, I said at last that if I sold
her, I must have six pounds for her, and I said so to get rid of him, for
I saw that he was a shabby fellow, who had probably not six shillings in
the world; but I had better have held my tongue," said the old man,
crying more bitterly than before, "for the words were scarcely out of my
mouth, when he said he would give me what I asked, and taking the sack
from his back, he pulled out a steelyard, and going to the heap of stones
there, he took up several of them and weighed them, then flinging them
down before me, he said, 'There are six pounds, neighbour; now, get off
the ass, and hand her over to me.' Well, I sat like one dumbfoundered
for a time, till at last I asked him what he meant? 'What do I mean,'
said he, 'you old rascal, why, I mean to claim my purchase,' and then he
swore so awfully, that scarcely knowing what I did I got down, and he
jumped on the animal and rode off as fast as he could." "I suppose he
was the fellow," said I, "whom I just now met upon a fine grey ass, which
he was beating with a cudgel." "I daresay he was," said the old man, "I
saw him beating her as he rode away, and I thought I should have died."
"I never heard such a story," said I; "well, do you mean to submit to
such a piece of roguery quietly?" "Oh dear," said the old man, "what can
I do? I am seventy-nine years of age; I am bad on my feet, and dar'n't
go after him." "Shall I go?" said I; "the fellow is a thief, and any one
has a right to stop him." "Oh, if you could but bring her again to me,"
said the old man, "I would bless you to my dying day; but have a care; I
don't know but after all the law may say that she is his lawful purchase.
I asked six pounds for her, and he gave me six pounds." "Six flints you
mean," said I; "no, no, the law is not quite so bad as that either; I
know something about her,