I I - American Memory

I
Inn
which reach'J down to my Ankles, and having never a
clean Shirt, and my black Hands and Face all together,
concurr'd to make me a very uncommon Heroe, and
the People laughing at me, put me fo out of Counte-
nance, as made the Performance like my Drefs, very
indifferent.
However, it being over. Home I came, and coming
thro' Ludgate, a Gentleman had fell down and loft three
Guineas and fome Silver out of his Pocket, of which
he had found one Guinea again before I came. I feeing
a Croud, aflc'd what was the Matter ? and was inform'd
by one of the By-Standers, upon which I went and
fearch'd for them, and found the other two ; I gave the-
Gentleman one, and kept the other myfelf unknown to
him. The Gentleman return'd me Thanks in a very
handfome manner, and defired I would accept of a Pint
of Wine, which I did, and then came Home, having
more Money than I had been Matter of at once for
fome Time before.
But that being gone, I was at a Lofs what to do for
more ; fo coming Home one Night late, or rather ear-
ly, from Windmill Hill, I wand'red up Chancery-Lane,
and it beginning to rain, I went into a little Hole un-
der the Majier in Chancerfs-Office, where I continu'd
fo long that it began to H^ riffio„ T;,r.c, and People be«
gan to be about, fo that I could not get out without be-
ing feen, which oblig'd me to lay there ali xta,, -„^
heard People walk and talk very near me, and turning
about fomething too quick, it caufed me to fall with my
Head juft againft fome Lath and Plaifter which belong'd
to the Office, fo violently, that I broke down Part
thereof, and could fee into the OfEce very plainly.
But it happen'd that no Body was near at that Time,
and it being in a very dark Comer, it was not feen;
this infpir'd me with a Thought which I had not be-
fore, which was to make the Hole bigger, and fo to
get into the Office, and fee if there was any Thing
worth bringing away. Accordingly at Night I put my
Defign in Execution, and having fearch'd all about, I
was