ell
a Lamentable Story how he was robb'd by some _Foot-Pads_ (as he came from
_Hampstead_, where he had been to see his _Uncle_) who had stript him of
all his Cloaths, and given him those things to cover his Nakedness: The
People of the House compassionated him very much, and lent him a Suit of
Cloaths, Hat and Wig, with which he went to his Master's, who was a
Goldsmith, and liv'd at the sign of the ---- in Cheapside.--And I appeal to
you Madam, whether he wasn't serv'd in his kind._

_I think_, reply'd the Goldsmiths Lady, _you are very happy and Ingenious
in all your Contrivances; and for ought I know, might have contributed more
to reclaim him from those Courses, than all the Lectures and Sermons that
could have been Preached against 'em; for one wou'd think he should have
but little Mind any more to those Sweet Meats which were attended with such
sower Sauce--But pray go on with the Story of your Life._

_Madam_, said she, having continued for many years with my Mistress, where
we kept very good orders, and liv'd in Reputation also among our Neighbors,
for we went constantly to Church, not only to make a shew of being
Religious, but to expose ourselves to the view of the Gallants: For our
Mistress or Governess always ordered us to follow her, and to take all
opportunitiss, as we came down Stairs from the Galleries, or as we past
over the Kennels in the Streets, to lift up our Coats so high, that we
might shew our handsome Legs and Feet, with a good fine Worsted or Silk
pair of Stockins on; by which means the Gallants would be sure either to
dog us 'emselves, or else to send their Footmen to see where we liv'd, and
then they would afterwards come to us themselves. By which means we have
got many a good Customer. And when we came home from Church, we generally,
if we had none of our Gallants with us, spent our time in reading of
Play-Books, that we might know the better how to entertain our Guests with
witty Discourses. Having, I say, spent several years in this calling, and
got some Monys by me, our Mistress happened to Die; and I finding the
Decays of Nature come upon me, and that I began to grow unserviceable, I
bought the Goods and Furniture my self, and so kept others under me, as my
Mistress had done before me. And drove that Trade in the same House (which
was in St. _Thomas Apostles_) for many years, and might have been there
still, had it not been for one Unfortunate Accident, which I'll next relate
to you.