tude 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 wretches, 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 pretenses, 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.

With a light pocket and a heavy heart she went back to the lady; and
with many tears told her sad story. The lady's husband, the justice,
condescended to listen to Betty's tale. He said Mrs. Sponge had long
been upon his books as a receiver of stolen goods. Betty's evidence
strengthened his bad opinion of her. "This petty system of usury,"
said the magistrate, "may be thought trifling; but it will no longer
appear so, when you reflect that if one of these female sharpers
possesses a capital of seventy shillings, or L3 10s., with fourteen
steady regular customers, she can realize a fixed income of one
hundred guineas a year. Add to this the influence such a loan gives
her over these friendless creatures, by compelling them to eat at
her house, or lodge, or buy liquors, or by taking their pawns, and
you will see the extent of the evil. I pity these poor victims: you,
Betty, shall point out some of them to me. I will endeavor to open
their eyes on their own bad management. It is not by giving to the
importunate shillings and half-crowns, and turning them adrift to
wait for the next accidental relief, that much good is done. It
saves trouble, indeed, but that trouble being the most valuable part
of charity, ought not to be spared; at least by those who have
leisure as well as affluence. It is one of the greatest acts of
kindness to the poor to mend their economy, and to give them right
views of laying out their little money to advantage. These poor
blinded creatures look no further than to be able to pay this heavy
interest every night, and to obtain the same loan on the same hard
terms the next day. Thus they are kept in poverty and bonda