I I - American Memory

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I endeavour'd to get off, but one Thomas Ruffel a Boy,
who went about blacking Shoes, and whofe Father for-
merly kept a Sivord-Cutlcr'i Shop under the Six Clerks
Qff.ce, came down tlie Lane, and feeing me, he told
every Body that he faw me endeavouring to break in-
to Mr. Carter's Shop, and faid further, that I had
own'd to him, that I had robb'd the Office, which laft
was falfe, for I never 'poke a Word to him about it.
Some Time after that I was reconcil'd to my Father
again, (as you will underftand by and by) and was at
Home again, my Father to whom I deny'd all thefe
I'hings, called him into the Shop one Day and con-
fronted him with me, and he faying that I never own'd
any fuch Thing to him, my Father faid. Then you are
a •vile Rogue to helye any Perfon behind their Back, for
you told me before fei'eral People that he did. Whereupon I
took Advantage of his prevaricating to perfwade my
Father that the Story of Carter's, Shop was like that,
and the Boy was fo confounded, that he did not contra-
dift me, fo my Father took my Part very ilrenuoufly,
verily believing that I was innocent and falfely ac-
cufed.
But when my Father heard this Report again con-
firm'd by feveral, he could not believe it, wherefore he
faid to my Brother, If you fee the Rafcal fend him to
me, I'want to [peak ivith him; and meeting me the
fame Night, fays he, My Father i