t now going to be made for the first
time; and the emaciated figure of the cat, strongly mark the natural
temper of the late miserly inhabitant, who could starve in the midst of
plenty.--But see the mighty change! View the hero of our piece, left to
himself, upon the death of his father, possessed of a goodly
inheritance. Mark how his mind is affected!--determined to partake of
the mighty happiness he falsely imagines others of his age and fortune
enjoy; see him running headlong into extravagance, withholding not his
heart from any joy; but implicitly pursuing the dictates of his will. To
commence this delusive swing of pleasure, his first application is to
the tailor, whom we see here taking his measure, in order to trick out
his pretty person. In the interim, enters a poor girl (with her mother),
whom our hero has seduced, under professions of love and promises of
marriage; in hopes of meeting with that kind welcome she had the
greatest reason to expect; but he, corrupted with the wealth of which he
is now the master, forgets every engagement he once made, finds himself
too rich to keep his word; and, as if gold would atone for a breach of
honour, is offering money to her mother, as an equivalent for the
non-fulfilling of his promise. Not the sight of the ring, given as a
pledge of his fidelity; not a view of the many affectionate letters he
at one time wrote to her, of which her mother's lap is full; not the
tears, nor even the pregnant condition of the wretched girl, could
awaken in him one spark of tenderness; but, hard hearted and unfeeling,
like the generality of wicked men, he suffers her to weep away her woes
in silent sorrow, and curse with bitterness her deceitful betrayer. One
thing more we shall take notice of, which is, that this unexpected
visit, attended with abuse from the mother, so engages the attention of
our youth, as to give the old pettifogger behind him an opportunity of
robbing him. Hence we see that one ill consequence is generally attended
with another; and that misfortunes, according to the old proverb, seldom
come alone.

Mr. Ireland remarks of this plate--"He here presents to us the
picture of a young man, thoughtless, extravagant, and licentious;
and, in colours equally impressive, paints the destructive
consequences of his conduct. The first print most forcibly contrasts
two opposite passions; the unthinking negligence of _youth_, and the
sordid avaricious rapacity