noon
It can not therefore be considered as a miracle , notwithstanding the extraordinary care and expense which his friends bestowed upon his education , that he always continued a blockhead , and was such a perfect dunce at eleven years of age , that instead of being able to read and write as a young gentleman ought to do , he could scarcely tell his letters . He was equally remarkable for his selfishness ; for if he had twenty cheesecakes in his box , or his pockets full of oranges and apples , he would sooner have given a tooth out of his head than have parted with one of them , even to his own brother or sister . The consequence was -LRB- and indeed what else could have been expected -RRB- that he was despised and hated by all his play fellows , and distinguished by the mortifying title of _ Tony Pig _ ; an animal which he perfectly resembled in his nastiness as well as greediness . For if he was dressed in the morning as clean as hands could make him , he would , by running into puddles and kennels , and rolling upon the ground , become as black as a chimney sweeper before noon ; and I sincerely believe that he thought it as great a punishment to have his hair combed , or to wash his hands and face , as to be whipped ; for he would cry and struggle as much to avoid the one as to escape the other . But , to ease his parents of their heavy apprehensions upon his account , and to rid the world of such a plague and disgrace , as he certainly would have been , if he had lived to years of maturity , kind death was pleased to dispatch him in the twelfth year of his age , by the help of a dozen penny custards , which he greedily conveyed down his throat at one meal , and thereby gorged his stomach , and threw himself into a mortal fever . After his exit , his soul , as I have already informed you , was hurried into the body of this little pig ; a station which perfectly corresponds with his disposition . Nay , so great is his stubbornness -LRB- which is another hateful quality in which he resembled the animal before you -RRB- that his punishment has not made the least alteration in his temper ; for , if we were to get his soul replaced into a human body , upon his promise of immediate amendment , he will not submit even to make such a promise .