I I - American Memory

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furely I was loft for fome Hours. I was about fourtecB
\ear5 6ld when I iirft began to learn my Trade or fu-
ture Dependance as it was called, and haJ I made it
fo It had been better for me ; and about eighteen, two
young fellows of my Acquaintance a&'d me one Day
if I had a Mmd for a Ramble, I direflly reply'd with
all my Heart, never confulting how we were to be fed,
ror whether we were to have Elijahs Caterers, the
Ravens to bnng us Provifions ; but away we went like
three Afles witii each a Load at his Back, and all put
together, Beafts and Burthens were fcarcely worth %di
and thus we trudg'd thro' feveral Towns and Villa?es,
fometimes one Way, fometimes another, not one of us
rightly knowing whither we were going, till growing
hungry and not finding any miraculous Support, and
Mt underftandmg the begging Trade, we began ta
thmk of Home, and at laft all concluded to'return,
which we did after a Weeks rambling'; and this was my
firft Step towards, the Life of a Gentleman. My Fa-
tlier and I being reconciled, I ftaid at Home about a
fT°L- "•''^^°"''' '""^ 'having once got the knack
of Gaddirg Home became intoUerable, fo I made ano-
ther Sally, and then having a Mind to do fomething
extraordinary, I got a few Lines in \he Tragedy o?
Jultus La:far by Heart, and having cleaned inyfelf.
aw-ay I went to Mr. Rich Matter of the New Play-
Houfe and offer'd myfelf to him, but being of a
Imall Stature, not at that Time exceeding five Foot, I
did not gam, Admittance amongft the , Heroes and
Demi-Gods as I expefted, but was forced to return
tlome, and upon fubmitOng myfelf to my Father was
again receiv'd, yet ftaid but a fliort Time before I
lett him again, having only my working Drefs on, for
he would not let me have my Cloaths. '
After this I took my Opportunity when all the Fa-
mily were gone to fee a Relation a little Way out of
lown on a Sunday, to convey myfelf mto-the Houfe,
^n.r.tT^ ^:^^-^ "P*^" "'y F^I^er's Clofet, there I
found all my Things, which I took along with me; but
the