Before I had been at school two years, however, I had beaten boys four years older than myself, and could fling a stone with my left hand (for if I am right-eyed I am left-handed) higher and farther than any one in the parish.
Moreover, no boy could equal me at riding, and no people ride so well or desperately as boys.

I could ride a donkey--a thing far more difficult to ride than a horse--at full gallop over hedges and ditches, seated or rather floating upon his hinder part,--so though anything but clever, as this here Romany Rye would say, I was yet able to do things which few other people could do.

By the time I was ten my father's affairs had got into a very desperate condition, for he had taken to gambling and horse- racing, and, being unsuccessful, had sold his stock, mortgaged his estate, and incurred very serious debts.

The upshot was, that within a little time all he had was seized, himself imprisoned, and my mother and myself put into a cottage belonging to the parish, which, being very cold and damp, was the cause of her catching a fever, which speedily carried her off.

I was then bound apprentice to a farmer, in whose service I underwent much coarse treatment, cold, and hunger.
"After lying in prison near two years, my father was liberated by an Act for the benefit of insolvent debtors; he was then lost sight of for some time; at last, however, he made his appearance in the neighbourhood dressed like a gentleman, and seemingly possessed of plenty of money.