twenty pounds,
to exist upon with economy for some time.

I was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hilloa! my lad, come and hold
this horse a moment." I looked up and perceived a person on horseback
looking at me. "Do you hear, or are you stupid?" cried the man. My
first feeling was to knock him down for his impertinence, but my bundle
lying beside, reminded me of my situation and appearance, and I rose and
walked towards the horse. The gentleman, for such he was in appearance,
dismounted, and throwing the rein on the horse's neck, told me to stand
by him for half a minute. He went into a respectable looking house
opposite the inn, and remained nearly half an hour, during which I was
becoming very impatient, and kept an anxious eye upon my bundle, which
lay on the seat. At last he came out, and mounting his horse looked in
my face with some degree of surprise. "Why, what are you?" said he, as
he pulled out a sixpence, and tendered it to me.

I was again nearly forgetting myself, affronted at the idea of sixpence
being offered to me; but I recovered myself, saying, as I took it, "A
poor labouring man, sir."

"What, with those hands?" said he, looking at them as I took the money;
and then looking at my face, he continued, "I think we have met before,
my lad--I cannot be sure; you know best--I am a Bow Street magistrate."

In a moment, I remembered that he was the very magistrate before whom I
had twice made my appearance. I coloured deeply, and made no reply.

"Well, my lad, I'm not on my bench now, and this sixpence you have
earned honestly. I trust you will continue in the right path. Be
careful--I have sharp eyes." So saying, he rode off.

I never felt more mortified. It was evident that he considered me as
one who was acting a part for unworthy purposes; perhaps one of the
swell mob or a flash pickpocket rusticating until some hue and cry was
over. "Well, well," thought I, as I took up a lump of dirt and rubbed
over my then white hands, "it is my fate to be believed when I deceive,
and to be mistrusted when I am acting honestly;" and I returned to the
bench for my bundle, which--was gone. I stared with astonishment. "Is
it possible?" thought I. "How dishonest people are! Well, I will not
carry another for the present. They might as well have left me my
stick." So thinking, and without any great degree of annoyance at the
loss, I turned from the bench and walked away, I knew not whither. It