He was a hard drinker, and was almost continually under the influence of liquor, and perhaps that was the cause of his singular habit.

He was a terribly ugly fellow, when he was mad, and the boys used to tease him in every possible way; but wo to them if he got hold of them.

He lived all alone, for he never had any wife or children; and he would not allow anybody to enter his house, on any account, but always kept the door locked.

If his neighbors had business to transact with him, he would step into the yard and attend to them; but even in the severest weather, he would not let them cross his threshold.

He never would speak to or look at a woman, and would always avoid meeting them, if possible.