shoe, when he saw, at some distance, a beggar approaching him. He
had on a loose sort of coat, mended with different-coloured rags,
amongst which the blue and the russet were the predominant. He had
a short knotty stick in his hand, and on the top of it was stuck a
ram's horn; his knees (though he was no pilgrim) had worn the stuff
of his breeches; he wore no shoes, and his stockings had entirely
lost that part of them which should have covered his feet and
ankles; in his face, however, was the plump appearance of good
humour; he walked a good round pace, and a crook-legged dog trotted
at his heels.

"Our delicacies," said Harley to himself, "are fantastic; they are
not in nature! that beggar walks over the sharpest of these stones
barefooted, whilst I have lost the most delightful dream in the
world, from the smallest of them happening to get into my shoe."
The beggar had by this time come up, and, pulling off a piece of
hat, asked charity of Harley; the dog began to beg too: --it was
impossible to resist both; and, in truth, the want of shoes and
stockings had made both unnecessary, for Harley had destined
sixpence for him before. The beggar, on receiving it, poured forth
blessings without number; and, with a sort of smile on his
countenance, said to Harley "that if he wanted to have his fortune
told"--Harley turned his eye briskly on the beggar: it was an
unpromising look for the subject of a prediction, and silenced the
prophet immediately. "I would much rather learn," said Harley,
"what it is in your power to tell me: your trade must be an
entertaining one; sit down on this stone, and let me know something
of your profession; I have often thought of turning fortune-teller
for a week or two myself."