re before I took further measures. The next morning
I went to a fitting-out shop, and asked the lad who attended how much
money I should have to pay for a pair of blue trousers, waistcoat, and
jacket. The lad told me that I might have a very nice suit for
twenty-two shillings. Twenty-two shillings! What an enormous sum it
appeared to me then; and then there was a straw hat to buy, and a pair
of shoes and stockings. I inquired the price of these last articles,
and found that my dress could not be made complete under thirty-three
shillings. I was quite in despair, for the sum appeared to be a
fortune. I sat down to calculate how long it would take me to save up
so much money, at sixpence a week, which was all that I could afford;
but, at that time, never having learnt anything of figures, all I could
make of it was that it was so long a time as to be beyond my
calculation.

It was Saturday evening,--I sat down on the steps of the landing-place,
very melancholy, thinking that to-morrow was Sunday, and abandoning all
hopes of ever going to church, when a Thames fisherman, of the name of
Freeman, who lived at Greenwich, and with whom I was acquainted--for I
used to assist him on the Saturday night to moor his coble off the
landing-place, and hang up his nets to dry--called out to me to come and
help him. I did so; we furled the sails, hauled on board his little
boat for keeping the fish alive, hoisted the nets up to the mast, and
made all secure; and I was thinking to myself that he would go to church
to-morrow, and I could not, when he asked me why I was so sad. I told
him.

"Why, Jack," said he, "I can't help you, for it is bad times with me
just now; indeed, I could help you but little if times were ever so
good--I've too many children of my own; but look ye, here's a good long
piece of four-inch, which I picked up, and it's well worth a shilling.
I'll give it you (for I do owe you something), and do you take it to old
Nanny. She's a queer body; but suppose you try whether she'll let you
have the money. She can if she chooses, and, as you have dealt with her
so long, perhaps she will, if you promise to lay some by every week, and
repay her."

This idea had never occurred to me, for I knew old Nanny was very close,
and drove very hard bargains with me; however, I thanked Freeman for his
piece of rope and piece of advice, and when, we landed I determined, at
all events, I would try.

I have before mentioned