your supper, and you shall have an excel-'My poor girl,' said she, do you know that lent lodging above stairs; so you see every you have already paid for that single five thing will now be provided for you in a gen-shillings the enormous sum of 77. 10s.? I beteel manner, through my generosity,'* lieve it is the most profitable five shillings Poor Betty's gratitude blinded her so com- Mrs. Sponge ever laid out.'—‘O no, mapletely, that she forgot to calculate the vast dam,' said the girl, that good gentlewoman proportion which this generous benefactress does the same kindness to ten or twelve was to receive out of her little gains. She other poor friendless creatures like me.'thought herself a happy creature, and went Does she so?' said the lady; then I nein to supper with a number of others of her ver heard of a more lucrative trade than own class. For this supper, and for more this woman carries on, under the mask of porter and gin than she ought to have drunk, charity, at the expense of her poor deluded Betty was forced to pay so high, that it ate fellow creatures.' up all the profits of the day, which, added to the daily interest, made Mrs. Sponge a rich return for her five shillings.

'But, madam,' said Betty, who did not comprehend this lady's arithmetic, what can I do? I now contrive to pick up a morsel of bread without begging or stealing. Mrs. Sponge has been very good to me; and I don't see how I can help myself.'

'I will tell you,' said the lady: 'if you

Betty was reminded again of the gentility of her new situation, as she crept up to bed in one of Mrs. Sponge's garrets, five stories high. This loft, to be sure, was small, and had no window, but what it wanted in light will follow my advice, you may not only was made up in company, as it had three maintain yourself honestly but independentbeds, and thrice as many lodgers. Those ly. Only oblige yourself to live hard for a gentry had one night, in a drunken frolic, little time, till you have saved five shillings broken down the door, which happily had out of your own earnings. Give up that exnever been replaced; for, since that time, pensive supper at night, drink only one pint the lodgers had died much seldomer of in- of porter, and no gin at all. As soon as you fectious distempers, than when they were have scraped together the five shillings, carclose shut in. For this lodging Betty paid ry it back to your false friend; and if you twice as much to her good friend as she are industrious, you will, at the end of the would have done to a stranger. Thus she year, have saved 77. 10s. If you can make continued, with great industry and a thri-a shift to live now, when you have this heavy ving trade, as poor as on the first day, and not a bit nearer to saving money enough to buy her even a pair of shoes, though her feet were nearly on the ground.

interest to pay, judge how things will mend when your capital becomes your own.. You will put some clothes on your back; and, by leaving the use of spirits, and the company in which you drink them, your health, your morals, and your condition will mend.'

The lady did not talk thus to save her

One day, as Betty was driving her barrow through a street near Holborn, a lady from a window called out to her that she wanted some oranges. While the servant went to money. She would willingly have given fetch a plate, the lady entered into some the girl the five shillings; but she thought it talk with Betty, having been struck with was beginning at the wrong end. She wanther honest countenance and civil manner. ed to try her. Besicles, she knew there was She questioned her as to her way of life, and more pleasure, as well as honour, in posthe profits of her trade; and Betty, who had sessing five shillings of one's own saving, never been so kindly treated before by so than of another's giving. Betty promised genteel a person, was very communicative. to obey. She owned she had got no good She told her little history as far as she by the company or the liquor at Mrs. knew it, and dwelt much on the generosity Sponge's. She promised that very night of Mrs. Sponge, in keeping her in her house, to begin saving the expense of the supand trusting her with so large a capital as per: and that she would not taste a drop five shillings. At first it sounded like a very of gin till she had the five shillings beforegood-natured thing; but the lady, whose hand. The lady, who knew the power of husband was one of the justices of the new good habits, was contented with this, thinkpolice, happened to know more of Mrs. ing, that if the girl could abstain for a cerSponge than was good, which led her to in-tain time, it would become easy to her. She quire still further. Betty owned, that to be therefore, at present, said little about the sure it was not all clear profit, for that be- sin of drinking, and only insisted on the exsides that the high price of the supper and pense of it. bed ran away with all she got, she paid sixpence a-day for the use of the five shillings.' And how long have you done this?' said the lady. About a year, madam.'

The lady's eyes were at once opened.

* For an authentic account of numberless frauds of this kind, see that very useful work of Mr. Colquhoun on the Police of the Metropolis of London.'

In a very few weeks Betty had saved up the five shillings. She went to carry back this money with great gratitude to Mrs. Sponge. This kind friend began to abuse her most unmercifully. She called her many hard names, not fit to repeat, for having forSaken the supper, by which she swore she herself got nothing at all; but as she had the charity to dress it for such beggarly wretch

es, she insisted they should pay for it, whether they eat it or not. She also brought in a heavy score for lodging, though Betty had paid for it every night, and had given notice of her intending to quit her. By all these false pretences, she got from her, not only her own five shillings, but all the little capital with which Betty was going to set up for herself. All was not sufficient to answer her demands she declared she would send her to prison: but while she went to call a constable, Betty contrived to make off.

rance.'

carnings became considerable. The lady made her a present of a gown and a hat, on the easy condition that she should go to church. She accepted the terms, at first rather as an act of obedience to the lady than from a sense of higher duty. But she soon began to go from a better motive. This constant attendance at church, joined to the instructions of the lady, opened a new world to Betty. She now heard, for the first time, that she was a sinner; that God had given a law which was holy, just, and good; that she With a light pocket and a heavy heart she had broken this law, had been a swearer, a went back to the lady; and with many tears Sabbath-breaker, and had lived without told her sad story. The lady's husband, the God in the world. All this was sad news to justice, condescended to listen to Betty's tale. Betty; she knew, indeed, before, that there He said Mrs. Sponge had long been upon were sinners, but she thought they were onhis books as a receiver of stolen goods. Bet-ly to be found in the prisons, or at Botany ty's evidence strengthened his bad opinion of Bay, or in those mournful carts which she her. This petty system of usury,' said the had sometimes followed with her barrow, 'magistrate, may be thought trifling; but it with the unthinking crowd, to Tyburn.— will no longer appear so, when you reflect, She was deeply struck with the great truths that if one of these female sharpers possesses revealed in the Scripture, which were quite a capital of seventy shillings, or 37. 10s. with new to her; her heart smote her, and she fourteen steady regular customers, she can became anxious to flee from the wrath to realize a fixed income of one hundred gui- come. She was desirous of improvement, neas a year. Add to this the influence such and said, she would give up all the proa loan gives her over these friendless crea- fits of her barrow, and go into the hardtures, by compelling them to eat at her est service, rather than live in sin and ignohouse, or lodge, or buy liquors, or by taking their pawns, and you will see the extent of 'Betty,' said the lady, 'I am glad to see the evil. I pity these poor victims: you, you so well disposed, and will do what I can Betty, shall point out some of them to me, for you. Your present way of life, to be I will endeavour to open their eyes on their sure, exposes you to much danger; but the own bad management. It is not by giving trade is not unlawful in itself, and we may to the importunate shillings and half-crowns, please God in any calling, provided it be not and turning them adrift to wait for the next a dishonest one. In this great town there accidental relief, that much good is done. It must be barrow-women to sell fruit. Do saves trouble, indeed, but that trouble being you, then, instead of forsaking your busithe most valuable part of charity, ought not ness, set a good example to those in it, and to be spared; at least by those who have show them, that though a dangerous trade, leisure as well as affluence. It is one of the it need not be a wicked one. Till Provigreatest acts of kindness to the poor to mend dence points out some safer way of getting their economy, and to give them right views your bread, let your companions see, that it of laying out their little money to advantage. is possible to be good even in this. Your These poor blinded creatures look no farther trade being carried on in the open street, than to be able to pay this heavy interest and your fruit bought in an open shop, you every night, and to obtain the same loan on are not so much obliged to keep sinful comthe same hard terms the next day. Thus pany as may be thought. Take a garret are they kept in poverty and bondage all in an honest house, to which you may go their lives; but I hope as many as hear of home in safety at night. I will give you a this will go on a better plan, and I shall be bed, and a few necessaries to furnish your ready to help any who are willing to help room; and I will also give you a constant themselves. This worthy magistrate went Sunday's dinner. A barrow-woman, blessed directly to Mrs. Sponge's with proper offi- be God and our good laws, is as much her cers; and he soon got to the bottom of ma- own mistress on Sundays as a duchess; and ny iniquities. He not only made her refund the chnrch and the Bible are as much open poor Betty's money, but committed her to to her. You may soon learn as much of reprison for receiving stolen goods, and vari-ligion as you are expected to know. A ous other offences, which may, perhaps, barrow-woman may pray as heartily mormake the subject of another history.

ning and night, and serve God as accep tably all day, while she is carrying on her little trade, as if she had her whole time to spare.'

'To do this well, you must mind the fol

Betty was now set up in trade to her heart's content. She had found the benefit of leaving off spirits, and she resolved to drink them no more. The first fruits of this resolution was, that in a fortnight she bought her lowing a new pair of shoes; and as there was now no deduction for interest, or for gin, her

• Rules for retail dealers. *Resist every temptation to cheat. 'Never impose bad goods on false pretences. 'Never put off bad money for good. 'Never use profane or uncivil language.

the lady, what you have just said, ɛhows the need you have of being better taught; there is no such thing as chance; and we offend God when we call that luck or chance which is brought about by his will and pleasure.-None of the events of your life have 'Never swear your goods cost so much, happened by chance; but all have been unwhen you know it is false. By so doing youder the direction of a good and kind Provi

are guilty of two sins in one breath, a lie and an oath.

dence. He has permitted you to experience want and distress, that you might acTo break these rules will be your chief knowledge His hand in your present comtemptation. God will mark how you behave fort and prosperity. Above all, you must under them, and will reward or punish you bless his goodness in sending you to me, not accordingly. These temptations will be as only because I have been of use to you in great to you, as higher trials are to higher your worldly affairs, but because he has people; but you have the same God to look enabled me to show you the danger of your to for strength to resist them as they have state from sin and ignorance, and to put you You must pray to him to give you this in a way to know his will and to keep his strength. You shall attend a Sunday-school, commandments, which is eternal life. where you will be taught these good things; and I will promote you as you shall be found to deserve.'

Poor Betty here burst into tears of joy and gratitude, crying out, What! shall such a poor friendless creature as I be treated so kindly, and learn to read the word of God too? Oh, madam, what a lucky chance brought me to your door !'-' Betty,' said

How Betty, by industry and piety, rose in the world, till at length she came to keep that handsome sausage shop near the Seven Dials, and was married to that very hackney-coachman, whose history and honest character may be learned from that ballad of the Cheap Repository which bears his name, may be shown hereafter.

BLACK GILES THE POACHER;

CONTAINING SOME ACCOUNT OF A FAMILY WHO HAD RATHER LIVE BY THEIR WITS THAN THEIR WORK.

PART. I.

POACHING GILES lives on the borders of one of those great moors in Somersetshire. Giles, to be sure, has been a sad fellow in his time; and it is none of his fault if his whole family do not end their career, either at the gallows or at Botany Bay. He lives at that mud cottage with the broken windows, stuffed with dirty rags, just beyond the gate which divides the upper from the lower moor. You may know the house at a good distance by the ragged tiles on the roof, and the loose stones which are ready to drop out from the chimney; though a short ladder, a hod of mortar, and half an hour's leisure time, would have prevented all this, and made the little dwelling tight enough. But as Giles had never learnt any thing that was good, so he did not know the value of such useful sayings, as, that a tile in time saves nine.'

charitable, while they turn away disgusted from filth and laziness; not out of pride, but because they see that it is next to impossible to mend the condition of those who degrade themselves by dirt and sloth; and few people care to help those who will not help themselves.

The common on which Giles's hovel stands, is quite a deep marsh in a wet winter: but in summer it looks green and pretty enough. To be sure it would be rather convenient when one passes that way in a carriage, if one of the children would run out and open the gate: but instead of any one of them running out as soon as they heard the wheels, which would be quite time enough, what does Giles do, but set all his ragged brats, with dirty faces, matted locks, and naked feet and legs, to lie all day upon a sand bank hard by the gate, waiting for the slender chance of what may be picked up from travellers. At the sound of a carriage, a whole Besides this, Giles fell into that common covey of these little scare-crows start up, misteke, that a beggarly looking cottage, rush to the gate, and all at once thrust out and filthy ragged children, raised most com- their hats and aprons; and for fear this, topassion, and of course drew most charity.gether with the noise of their clamorous But as cunning as he was in other things, he begging, should not sufficiently frighten the was out in his reckoning here; for it is neat-horses, they are very apt to let the gate slap ness, housewifery, and a decent appearance, full against you, before you are half way which draw the kindness of the rich and through, in their eager scuffle to snatch

from each other the halfpence which you grew so dexterous, that they could give a have thrown out to them. I know two la-pretty good guess how large a coal they dies who were one day very near being kil-could crib out of every bag before the buyled by these abominable tricks. er would be likely to miss it.

Thus five or six little idle creatures, who All their odd time was taken up under might be earning a trifle by knitting at home, the pretence of watching their asses on the who might be useful to the public by work-moor, or running after five or six half-staring in the field, and who might assist their ved geese: but the truth is these boys were families by learning to get their bread twen-only watching for an opportunity to steal an ty honest ways, are suffered to lie about all odd goose of their neighbour's, while they day, in the hope of a few chance halfpence, pretended to look after their own. They which, after all, they are by no means sure used also to pluck the quills or the down of getting. Indeed, when the neighbouring from these poor live creatures, or half milk gentlemen found out that opening the gate a cow before the farmer's maid came with was the family trade, they soon left off giv- her pail. They all knew how to calculate ing any thing. And I myself, though I used to a minute what time to be down in a morto take out a penny ready to give, had there ning to let out their lank hungry beasts, been only one to receive it, when I see a which they had turned over night into the whole family established in so beggarly a farmer's field to steal a little good pasture. trade, quietly put it back again in my poc-They contrived to get there just time enough ket, and give nothing at all. And so few travellers pass that way, that sometimes after the whole family have lost a day, their gains do not amount to two-pence.

to escape being caught replacing the stakes they had pulled out for the cattle to get over. For Giles was a prudent long-headed fellow; and whenever he stole food for his As Giles had a far greater taste for living colts, took care never to steal stakes from by his wits than his work, he was at one time the hedges at the same place. He had in hopes that his children might have got a sense enough to know that the gain did not pretty penny by tumbling for the diversion make up for the danger; he knew that a of travellers, and he set about training them loose faggot, pulled from a neighbour's pile in that indecent practice; but unluckily the of wood after the family were gone to bed, moors being level, the carriage travelled fas-answered the end better, and was not half ter than the children tumbled. He envied the trouble. those parents who lived on the London road, Among the many trades which Giles proover the Wiltshire downs, which downs be- fessed, he sometimes practised that of a rating very hilly, it enables the tumbler to keep catcher; but he was addicted to so many pace with the traveller, till he sometimes tricks, that he never followed the same extorts from the light and unthinking, a re-trade long; for detection will, sooner or later, ward instead of a reproof. I beg leave, follow the best concerted villany, Whenhowever, to put all gentlemen and ladies in ever he was sent for to a farm house, his mind, that such tricks are a kind of appren-custom was to kill a few of the old rats, alticeship to the trades of begging and thiev-ways taking care to leave a little stock of ing; and that nothing is more injurious to young ones alive, sufficient to keep up the good morals, than to encourage the poor in breed; for,' said he, if I were to be such any habits which may lead them to live up- a fool as to clear a house or a barn at once, on chance. how would my trade be carried on? And Giles, to be sure, as his children grew where any barn was over-stocked, he used older, began to train them to such other em- to borrow a few rats from thence, just to ployments, as the idle habits they had lear-people a neighbouring granary which had ned at the gate very properly qualified them none; and he might have gone on till now, for. The right of common, which some of had he not unluckily been caught one evethe poor cottagers have in that part of the ning emptying his cage of rats under parson country, and which is doubtless a considera-Wilson's barn door. ble advantage to many, was converted by This worthy minister, Mr. Wilson, used Giles, into the means of corrupting his whole to pity the neglected children of Giles, as family; for his children, as soon as they much as he blamed the wicked parents. He grew too big for the trade of begging at the one day picked up Dick, who was far the gate, were promoted to the dignity of thieves best of Gile's bad boys. Dick was loitering on the moor. Here he kept two or three about in a field behind the parson's garden asses, miserable beings, which if they had in search of a hen's nest, his mother having the good fortune to escape an untimely death ordered him to bring home a few eggs that by starving, did not fail to meet with it by night, by hook or by crook, as Giles was rebeating. Some of the biggest boys were solved to have some pancakes for supper, sent out with these lean and galled animals though he knew that eggs were a penny ato carry sand or coals about the neighbour-piece. Mr. Wilson had long been desirous ing towns. Both sand and coals were often of snatching some of this vagrant family stolen before they got them to sell; or if not, from ruin; and his chief hopes were bent on they always took care to cheat in selling Dick, as the least hackneyed in knavery. them. By long practice in this art, they He had once given him a new pair of shoes,

on his promising to go to school next Sun- both bag and beans into his own pocket to day; but no sooner had Rachel, the boy's carry home, bidding Dick tell Mr. Wilson mother, got the shoes into her clutches, than that he had planted the beans and lost the she pawned them for a bottle of gin; and or-bag.

dered the boy to keep out of the parson's In the meantime Giles's other boys were sight, and to be sure to play his marbles on busy in emptying the ponds and troutSunday for the future, at the other end of streams in the neighbouring manor. They the parish, and not near the church-yard. would steal away the carp and tench when Mr. Wilson, however, picked up the boy they were no bigger than gudgeons. By this once more, for it was not his way to despair untimely depredation they plundered the of any body. Dick was just going to take to owner of his property, without enriching his heels, as usual, for fear the old story of themselves. But the pleasure of mischief the shoes should be brought forward; but was reward enough. These, and a hundred finding he could not get off, what does he do other little thieveries, they committed with but run into a little puddle of muddy water such dexterity, that old Tim Crib, whose which lay between him and the parson, that son was transported last assizes for sheep the sight of his naked feet might not bring stealing, used to be often reproaching his on the dreaded subject. Now it happened boys that Giles's sons were worth a hundred that Mr. Wilson was planting a little field of of such blockheads, as he had; for scarce a beans, so he thought this a good opportunity night passed but Giles had some little comto employ Dick, and he told him he had got fortable thing for supper which his boys had some pretty easy work for him. Dick did as pilfered in the day, while his undutiful dogs he was bid; he willingly went to work, and never stole any thing worth having. Giles, readily began to plant his beans with des- in the meantime, was busy in his way, but as patch and regularity according to the direc-busy as he was in laying his nets, starting tions given him. coveys, and training dogs, he always took care that his depredations should not be confined merely to game.

While the boy was busily at work by himself, Giles happened to come by, having been skulking round the back way to look over Giles's boys had never seen the inside of a the parson's garden wall, to see if there was church since they were christened, and the any thing worth climbing over for on the father thought he knew his own interest betensuing night. He spied Dick, and began ter than to force them to it; for church-time to scold him for working for the stingy old was the season of their harvest. Then the parson, for Giles had a natural antipathy to hens' nests were searched, a stray duck was whatever belonged to the church. What clapped under the smock frock, the tools has he promised thee a-day?' said he; little which might have been left by chance in a enough I dare say. He is not to pay me farm-yard were picked up, and all the by the day,' said Dick, but says he will neighbouring pigeon-houses were thinned, give me so much when I have planted this so that Giles used to boast to tawny Rachel peck, and so much for the next.' 'Oh, oh! his wife, that Sunday was to them the most that alters the case,' said Giles. One may, profitable day in the week. With her it was indeed, get a trifle by this sort of work. I certainly the most laborious day, as she alhate your regular day-jobs, where one can't ways did her washing and ironing on the well avoid doing one's work for one's money. Sunday morning, it being, as she said, the Come, give me a handful of the beans, I will only leisure day she had, for on the other teach thee how to plant when thou art paid days she went about the country telling forfor planting by the peck. All we have to do tunes, and selling dream-books and wicked in that case is to despatch the work as fast songs. Neither her husband's nor her chilas we can, and get rid of the beans with all dren's clothes were ever mended, and if speed; and as to the seed coming up or not, Sunday, her idle day, had not come about that is no business of our's; we are paid for once in every week, it is likely they would planting not for growing. At the rate thou never have been washed neither. You might goest on thou would'st not get sixpence to- however see her as you were going to night. Come along, bury away.' So saying church smoothing her own rags on her best he took his hatful of the seed, and where red cloak, which she always used for her Dick had been ordered to set one bean, ironing-cloth on Sundays, for her cloak Giles buried a dozen; of course the beans when she travelled, and for her blanket at were soon out. But though the peck was night; such a wretched manager was Raemptied, the ground was unplanted. But chel! Among her other articles of trade, Cunning Giles knew this could not be found one was to make and sell pepper-mint, and out till the time when the beans might be ex- other distilled waters. These she had the pected to come up, and then Dick,' says cheap art of making without trouble and he, the snails and the mice may go shares without expense, for she made them within the blame, or we can lay the fault on the rooks or the black-birds.' So saying he sent the boy into the parsonage to receive his pay, taking care to secure about a quarter of the peck of beans for his own colt. He put VOL. I.

36

out herbs and without a still. Her way was, to fill so many quart bottles with plain water, putting a spoonful of mint water in the mouth of cach; these she corked down with rosin, carrying to each customer a phial of