be of a more
serious way of thinking, he often asked him to sit an hour with
him, when they read the Bible, and talked it over together in a
manner very pleasant and improving; and as Will was a famous singer,
a psalm or two sung together was a very innocent pleasure.

James's good manners and civility to the customers drew much
business to the shop; and his skill as a workman was so great, that
every one desired that his shoes might be made by James. Williams
grew so very idle and negligent, that he now totally neglected his
affairs, and to hard drinking added deep gaming. All James's care,
both of the shop and the accounts, could not keep things in any
tolerable order: he represented to his master that they were growing
worse and worse, and exhorted him, if he valued his credit as a
tradesman, his comfort as a husband and father, his character as a
master, and his soul as a Christian, to turn over a new leaf.
Williams swore a great oath, that he would not be restrained in his
pleasures to please a canting parish 'prentice, nor to humor a
parcel of squalling brats--that let people say what they would of
him, they should never say he was a _hypocrite_, and as long as they
could not call him that, he did not care what else they called him.

In a violent passion he immediately went to the Grayhound, where he
now spent not only every evening, which he had long done, but good
part of the day and night also. His wife was very dressy,
extravagant, and fond of company, and wasted at home as fast as her
husband spent abroad, so that all the neighbors said, if it had not
been for James, his master must have been a bankrupt long ago, but
they were sure he could not hold it much longer.

As Jack Brown sung a good song, and played many diverting tricks,
Williams liked his company; and often allowed him to make one at the
Grayhound, where he would laugh heartily at his stories; so that
every one thought Jack was much the greater favorite--so he was as a
companion in frolic, and foolery, and _pleasure_, as it is called;
but he would not trust him with an inch of leather or sixpence in
money: No, no--when business was to be done, or trust was to be
reposed, James was the man: the idle and the drunken never trust one
another, if they have common sense. They like to laugh, and sing,
and riot, and drink together, but when they want a friend, a
counselor, a helper in business or in trouble, they go further
afield; and Williams, while