A Beggar's Wedding

: Begging.

Dean Swift being in the country, on a visit to Dr.
Sheridan, they were informed that a beggar's wedding was about to be

celebrated. Sheridan played well upon the violin; Swift therefore proposed

that he should go to the place where the ceremony was to be performed,

disguised as a blind fiddler, while he attended him as his man. Thus

accoutred they set out, and were received by the jovial crew with great

acclamation. They had lenty of good cheer, and never was a more joyous

wedding seen. All was mirth and frolic; the beggars told stories, played

tricks, cracked jokes, sung and danced, in a manner which afforded high

amusement to the fiddler and his man, who were well rewarded when they

departed, which was not till late in the evening. The next day the Dean and

Sheridan walked out in their usual dress, and found many of their late

companions, hopping about upon crutches, or pretending to be blind, pouring

forth melancholy complaints and supplications for charity. Sheridan

distributed among them the money he had received; but the Dean, who hated

all mendicants, fell into a violent passion, telling them of his adventure

of the preceding day, and threatening to send every one of them to prison.

This had such an effect, that the blind opened their eyes, and the lame

threw away their crutches, running away as fast as their legs could carry

them.