seven o'clock in the morning
I was much amused with the discourse of this mumper , who appeared to be one of the merriest old vagabonds in England . I took his advice , bought six pennyworth of matches , and commenced my new vagrant speculation . `` The first day I picked up three-pence , for one quarter of my stock , and returned to the same place where I had slept the night before , but the fraternity had quitted on an expedition . I spent my two-pence in bread and cheese , and paid one penny for my lodging , and again I started the next morning , but I was very unsuccessful ; nobody appeared to want matches that day , and after walking from seven o'clock in the morning , to past seven in the evening , without selling one farthing 's worth , I sat down at the porch of a chapel , quite tired and worn out . At last , I fell asleep , and how do you think I was awoke ? by a strong sense of suffocation , and up I sprang , coughing , and nearly choked , surrounded with smoke . Some mischievous boys perceiving that I was fast asleep , had set fire to my matches , as I held them in my hand between my legs , and I did not wake until my fingers were severely burnt .