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an old woman； he departed and skulked about in various places；
doing now and then a little work； until hearing his adversary was
recovering； he returned to his home。 He went on writing and
performing interludes till he fell in love with a young woman
rather religiously inclined； whom he married in the year 1763； when
he was in his twenty…fourth year。 The young couple settled down on
a little place near the town of Denbigh； called Ale Fowlio。 They
kept three cows and four horses。 The wife superintended the cows；
and Tom with his horses carried wood from Gwenynos to Ruddlan； and
soon excelled all other carters 〃in loading and in everything
connected with the management of wood。〃 Tom in the pride of his
heart must needs be helping his fellow…carriers； whilst labouring
with them in the forests； till his wife told him he was a fool for
his pains； and advised him to go and load in the afternoon； when
nobody would be about； offering to go and help him。 He listened to
her advice and took her with him。
〃The dear creature；〃 says he； 〃assisted me for some time； but as
she was with child； and on that account not exactly fit to turn the
roll of the crane with levers of iron； I formed the plan of hooking
the horses to the rope； in order to raise up the wood which was to
be loaded； and by long teaching the horses to pull and to stop； I
contrived to make loading a much easier task； both to my wife and
myself。 Now this was the first hooking of horses to the rope of
the crane which was ever done either in Wales or England。
Subsequently I had plenty of leisure and rest instead of toiling
amidst other carriers。〃
Leaving Ale Fowlio he took up his abode nearer to Denbigh； and
continued carrying wood。 Several of his horses died； and he was
soon in difficulties； and was glad to accept an invitation from
certain miners of the county of Flint to go and play them an
interlude。 As he was playing them one called 〃A Vision of the
Course of the World；〃 which he had written for the occasion； and
which was founded on； and named after； the first part of the work
of Master Ellis Wyn； he was arrested at the suit of one Mostyn of
Calcoed。 He； however； got bail； and partly by carrying and partly
by playing interludes； soon raised money enough to pay his debt。
He then made another interlude； called 〃Riches and Poverty；〃 by
which he gained a great deal of money。 He then wrote two others；
one called 〃The Three Associates of Man； namely； the World； Nature；
and Conscience；〃 the other entitled 〃The King； the Justice； the
Bishop and the Husbandman；〃 both of which he and certain of his
companions acted with great success。 After he had made all that he
could by acting these pieces he printed them。 When printed they
had a considerable sale； and Tom was soon able to set up again as a
carter。 He went on carting and carrying for upwards of twelve
years； at the end of which time he was worth； with one thing and
the other； upwards of three hundred pounds； which was considered a
very considerable property about ninety years ago in Wales。 He
then； in a luckless hour； 〃when；〃 to use his own words； 〃he was at
leisure at home； like King David on the top of his house；〃 mixed
himself up with the concerns of an uncle of his； a brother of his
father。 He first became bail for him； and subsequently made
himself answerable for the amount of a bill； due by his uncle to a
lawyer。 His becoming answerable for the bill nearly proved the
utter ruin of our hero。 His uncle failed； and left him to pay it。
The lawyer took out a writ against him。 It would have been well
for Tom if he had paid the money at once； but he went on dallying
and compromising with the lawyer； till he became terribly involved
in his web。 To increase his difficulties work became slack； so at
last he packed his things upon his carts； and with his family；
consisting of his wife and three daughters； fled into
Montgomeryshire。 The lawyer； however； soon got information of his
whereabouts； and threatened to arrest him。 Tom； after trying in
vain to arrange matters with him； fled into South Wales； to
Carmarthenshire； where he carried wood for a timber…merchant； and
kept a turnpike gate； which belonged to the same individual。 But
the 〃old cancer〃 still followed him； and his horses were seized for
the debt。 His neighbours； however； assisted him； and bought the
horses in at a low price when they were put up for sale； and
restored them to him for what they had given。 Even then the matter
was not satisfactorily settled； for； years afterwards； on the
decease of Tom's father； the lawyer seized upon the property； which
by law descended to Tom O'r Nant； and turned his poor old mother
out upon the cold mountain's side。
Many strange adventures occurred to Tom in South Wales； but those
which befell him whilst officiating as a turnpike…keeper were
certainly the most extraordinary。 If what he says be true； as of
course it is … for who shall presume to doubt Tom O' the Dingle's
veracity？ … whosoever fills the office of turnpike…keeper in Wild
Wales should be a person of very considerable nerve。
〃We were in the habit of seeing；〃 says Tom； 〃plenty of passengers
going through the gate without paying toll； I mean such things as
are called phantoms or illusions … sometimes there were hearses and
mourning coaches； sometimes funeral processions on foot； the whole
to be seen as distinctly as anything could be seen； especially at
night…time。 I saw myself on a certain night a hearse go through
the gate whilst it was shut； I saw the horses and the harness； the
postillion； and the coachman； and the tufts of hair such as are
seen on the tops of hearses； and I saw the wheels scattering the
stones in the road； just as other wheels would have done。 Then I
saw a funeral of the same character； for all the world like a real
funeral； there was the bier and the black drapery。 I have seen
more than one。 If a young man was to be buried there would be a
white sheet； or something that looked like one … and sometimes I
have seen a flaring candle going past。
〃Once a traveller passing through the gate called out to me：
'Look！ yonder is a corpse candle coming through the fields beside
the highway。' So we paid attention to it as it moved； making
apparently towards the church from the other side。 Sometimes it
would be quite near the road； another time some way into the
fields。 And sure enough after the lapse of a little time a body
was brought by exactly the same route by which the candle had come；
owing to the proper road being blocked up with snow。
〃Another time there happened a great wonder connected with an old
man of Carmarthen； who was in the habit of carrying fish to Brecon；
Menny； and Monmouth； and returning with the poorer kind of
Gloucester cheese： my people knew he was on the road and had made
ready for him； the weather being dreadful； wind blowing and snow
drifting。 Well； in the middle of the night； my daughters heard the
voice of the old man at the gate； and their mother called to them
to open it quick； and invi