I I - American Memory

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Gallant fo well that Night, that 'twas not in her Po-
wer to have denied me her Heart had I requefted it; but
I had the Modefty and good Confcience only to beg the
Favour of her to lend me feven Guineas for a Week,
and I'd pay her as punftually as a Gamefter does a Debt
of Honour. She open'd her Purfe Strings at the firft
Word, and laid me down the Telbws, then with a wan-
ton Leer, and a lufcious Bafs, Dear Jacky, faid (he,
you kno-iv I can deny you nothing.
Thus after a Storm comes a Calm, and Safety after
Danger. In the Morning I brufh'd Home with my
Neft of GoldfincFs, and never thought of returning
them any more from that Day to this, for which Aft
of Ingratitude I hope God, the Widow, and her Son,
will all forgive me.
The aforegoing Mrs. W-—/1 was lawfully marry'd
to at Stepney Church, and was that Day put in Poffef-
fion, not only of her Perfon, but likewife in Money
and Plate of a confiderable Value, and might to this
Day been very happy together if I had took her Ad-
vice, but I was of a roving Difpofition, and of an un-
fettled Mind, that I took all Opportunities to fatisfy my
own Inclinations, altho' I knew it was contrary to an
honeft Man, and at the End I thought it would drive
me to the unhappy Circumftances which I at this Time
lay under: It is fome Satisfaftion to me before I depart
this wicked World, that ihe is now at this Time in a
Way (that I pray God) that ihe may get a handfome
Competence to fupport her and hers, for I can fpeak it
by fatal Experience, Neceffity was the chief Motive
that made me turn out again, which, as I am a dying
Man, I had no Thought ever to commit any Robbe-
ries on the Highway, if I could but have been once
more put in any Way to have got a Livelihood.
A Day or two before the Dead Warrant came down,
I happen'd to fee in the Prefs-Tard William Worral,
(the Son of that unfortunate Woman) as I fat in the
Tap-Houfe with one of my Wives drinking, God for-
give me I had two or three) his Mother being one, as I
told