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strong and healthy； and longed to join in the sports of boys of his
age。 He went bird…nesting with them； and climbed the trees while
the boys below directed him to the nests； receiving his share of
eggs and young birds。 Thus he shortly became an expert climber；
and could mount with ease any tree that he was able to grasp。
He rambled into the lanes and fields alone； and soon knew every foot
of the ground for miles round Knaresborough。 He next learnt to
ride； delighting above all things in a gallop。 He contrived to
keep a dog and coursed hares： indeed； the boy was the marvel of the
neighbourhood。 His unrestrainable activity； his acuteness of sense；
his shrewdness； and his cleverness； astonished everybody。
The boy's confidence in himself was such； that though blind； he was
ready to undertake almost any adventure。 Among his other arts he
learned to swim in the Nidd； and became so expert that on one
occasion he saved the lives of three of his companions。 Once； when
two men were drowned in a deep part of the river； Metcalf was sent
for to dive for them； which he did； and brought up one of the
bodies at the fourth diving： the other had been carried down the
stream。 He thus also saved a manufacturer's yarn； a large quantity
of which had been carried by a sudden flood into a deep hole under
the High Bridge。 At home； in the evenings； he learnt to play the
fiddle； and became so skilled on the instrument； that he was shortly
able to earn money by playing dance music at country parties。
At Christmas time he played waits； and during the Harrogate season
he played to the assemblies at the Queen's Head and the Green Dragon。
On one occasion； towards dusk； he acted as guide to a belated
gentleman along the difficult road from York to Harrogate。
The road was then full of windings and turnings； and in many places
it was no better than a track across unenclosed moors。 Metcalf
brought the gentleman safe to his inn； 〃The Granby；〃 late at night；
and was invited to join in a tankard of negus。 On Metcalf leaving
the room； the gentleman observed to the landlord〃I think；
landlord； my guide must have drunk a great deal of spirits since we
came here。〃 〃Why so； Sir？〃 〃Well； I judge so； from the appearance
of his eyes。〃 〃Eyes！ bless you； Sir；〃 rejoined the landlord； 〃don't
yon know that he is blind？〃 〃Blind！ What do you mean by that？〃
〃I mean； Sir； that he cannot seehe is as blind as a stone。
〃Well； landlord；〃 said the gentleman； 〃this is really too much：
call him in。〃 Enter Metcalf。 〃My friend； are you really blind？〃
〃Yes； Sir；〃 said he； 〃I lost my sight when six years old。〃 〃Had I
known that； I would not have ventured with you on that road from
York for a hundred pounds。〃 〃And I； Sir；〃 said Metcalf； 〃would not
have lost my way for a thousand。〃
Metcalf having thriven and saved money； bought and rode a horse of
his own。 He had a great affection for the animal； and when he
called； it would immediately answer him by neighing。 The most
surprising thing is that he was a good huntsman； and to follow the
hounds was one of his greatest pleasures。 He was as bold as a
rider as ever took the field。 He trusted much； no doubt； to the
sagacity of his horse； but he himself was apparently regardless of
danger。 The hunting adventures which are related of him；
considering his blindness； seem altogether marvellous。 He would
also run his horse for the petty prizes or plates given at the
〃feasts〃 in the neighbourhood； and he attended the races at York
and other places； where he made bets with considerable skill；
keeping well in his memory the winning and losing horses。
After the races； he would return to Knaresborough late at night；
guiding others who but for him could never have made out the way。
On one occasion he rode his horse in a match in Knaresborough
Forest。 The ground was marked out by posts； including a circle of
a mile； and the race was three times round。 Great odds were laid
against the blind man； because of his supposed inability to keep
the course。 But his ingenuity was never at fault。 He procured a
number of dinner…bells from the Harrogate inns and set men to ring
them at the several posts。 Their sound was enough to direct him
during the race； and the blind man came in the winner！ After the
race was over； a gentleman who owned a notorious runaway horse came
up and offered to lay a bet with Metcalf that he could not gallop
the horse fifty yards and stop it within two hundred。 Metcalf
accepted the bet； with the condition that he might choose his
ground。 This was agreed to； but there was to be neither hedge nor
wall in the distance。 Metcalf forthwith proceeded to the
neighbourhood of the large bog near the Harrogate Old Spa； and
having placed a person on the line in which he proposed to ride；
who was to sing a song to guide him by its sound； he mounted and
rode straight into the bog； where he had the horse effectually
stopped within the stipulated two hundred yards； stuck up to his
saddle…girths in the mire。 Metcalf scrambled out and claimed his
wager； but it was with the greatest difficulty that the horse could
be extricated。
The blind man also played at bowls very successfully； receiving the
odds of a bowl extra for the deficiency of each eye。 He had thus
three bowls for the other's one； and he took care to place one
friend at the jack and another midway； who； keeping up a constant
discourse with him； enabled him readily to judge of the distance。
In athletic sports； such as wrestling and boxing； he was also a
great adept； and being now a full…grown man； of great strength and
robustness； about six feet two in height； few durst try upon him
the practical jokes which cowardly persons are sometimes disposed
to play upon the blind。
Notwithstanding his mischievous tricks and youthful wildness； there
must have been something exceedingly winning about the man；
possessed； as he was； of a strong； manly； and affectionate nature；
and we are not； therefore； surprised to learn that the land lord's
daughter of 〃The Granby〃 fairly fell in love with Blind Jack and
married him； much to the disgust of her relatives。 When asked how
it was that she could marry such a man； her woman…like reply was；
〃Because I could not be happy without him： his actions are so
singular； and his spirit so manly and enterprising； that I could
not help loving him。〃 But； after all； Dolly was not so far wrong in
the choice as her parents thought her。 As the result proved；
Metcalf had in him elements of success in life； which； even according
to the world's estimate； made him eventually a very 〃good match；〃
and the woman's clear sight in this case stood her in good stead。
But before this marriage was consummated； Metcalf had wandered far
and 〃seen〃 a good deal of the world； as he termed it。 He travelled
on horseback to Whitby； and from thence he sailed for London；
taking with him his fiddle； by the aid of which he continued to
earn enough to maintain himself for several weeks in the
metropolis。 Returning to Whitby； He sailed from thence to
Newcastle to 〃see〃 some friends there； whom he had known at
Harrogate while visiting that watering…place。 He was welcomed by
many families and spent an agreeable month； afterwards visiting
Sunderland； still supporting himself by his violin playing。
Then he returned to Whitby for his horse； and rode homeward alone to
Knaresborough by Pickering； Malton； and York； over very bad roads；
the greater part of which he had never travelled before； yet
without once missing his way。 When he arrived at York； it was the
dead of night； and he found the city gates at Middlethorp shut。
They were of strong planks； with iron spikes fixed on the top； but
throwing his horse's bridle…rein over one of the spikes； he climbed
up； and by the help of a corner of the wall that joined the gates；
he got safely over： then opening； them from the inside； he led his
horse through。
After another season at Harrogate； he made a second visit to
London； in the company of a North countryman who played the small
pipes。 He was kindly entertained by Colonel Liddell； of Ravensworth
Castle； who gave him a general invitation to his house。 During
this visit which was in 1730…1； Metcalf ranged freely over the
metropolis； visiting Maidenhead and Reading； and returning by
Windsor and Hampton Court。 The Harrogate season being at hand；
he prepared to proceed thither；Colonel Liddell； who was also about
setting out for Harrogate； offering him a seat behind his coach。
Metcalf thanked him； but declined the offer； observing that he
could； with great ease； walk as； far in a day as he； the Colonel；
was likely to travel in his carriage； besides； he preferred the
walking。 That a blind man should undertake to walk a distance of
two hundred miles over an unknown road； in the same time that it
took a gentleman to perform the same distance in his coach； dragged