at was my job before you came. I have been more than a year, and
never have got out of those rudimans yet, and I suppose I never shall."

Mr Brookes, perceiving that I was tired, desired me to leave off, an
order which I gladly obeyed, and I took my seat in a corner of the shop.

"There," said Timothy, laying down his basket; "no more work for me
_hanty prandium,_ is there, Mr Brookes?"

"No, Tim; but _post prandium,_ you'll _post_ off again."

Dinner being ready, and Mr Cophagus having returned, he and Mr Brookes
went into the back parlour, leaving Timothy and me in the shop to
announce customers. And I shall take this opportunity of introducing Mr
Timothy more particularly, as he will play a very conspicuous part in
this narrative. Timothy was short in stature for his age, but very
strongly built. He had an oval face, with a very dark complexion, grey
eyes flashing from under their long eyelashes, and eyebrows nearly
meeting each other. He was marked with the small-pox, not so much as to
disfigure him, but still it was very perceptible when near to him. His
countenance was always lighted up with merriment; there was such a
happy, devil-may-care expression in his face, that you liked him the
first minute that you were in his company, and I was intimate with him
immediately.

"I say, Japhet," said he, "where did you come from?"

"The Foundling," replied I.

"Then you have no friends or relations."

"If I have, I do not know where to find them," replied I, very gravely.

"Pooh! don't be grave upon it. I haven't any either. I was brought up by
the parish, in the workhouse. I was found at the door of a gentleman's
house, who sent me to the overseers--I was about a year old then. They
call me a foundling, but I don't care what they call me, so long as they
don't call me too late for dinner. Father and mother, whoever they were,
when they ran away from me, didn't run away with my appetite. I wonder
how long master means to play with his knife and fork. As for Mr
Brookes, what he eats wouldn't physic a snipe. What's your other name,
Japhet?"

"Newland."

"Newland--now you shall have mine in exchange: Timothy Oldmixon at your
service. They christened me after the workhouse pump, which had 'Timothy
Oldmixon fecit' on it; and the overseers thought it as good a name to
give me as any other; so I was christened after the pump-maker with some
of the pump water. As soon as I was big enough, they employed me to pump
all