ght and
forty hours, and I believe we have met with eight and forty thousand
misfortunes. We have been jeered, reproached, buffeted, and at last
stript of our money; and I suppose by and bye we shall be stript of
our skins. Indeed as to the money part of it, that was owing to our own
folly.--Solomon says, 'Bray a fool in a mortar, and he will never be
wise.' Ah! God help us, an ounce of prudence is worth a pound of gold."
This was no time for him to tamper with my disposition, already mad with
my loss, and inflamed with resentment against him for having refused me
a little money to attempt to retrieve it. I therefore turned towards
him with a stern countenance, and asked, who he called fool? Being
altogether unaccustomed to such looks from me, he stood still, and
stared in my face for some time; then, with some confusion, uttered,
"Fool! I called nobody fool but myself; I am sure I am the greatest fool
of the two, for being so much concerned at other people's misfortunes;
but 'Nemo omnibus horis sapit'--that's all, that's all." Upon which a
silence ensued, which brought us to our lodging, where I threw myself
upon the bed in an agony of despair, resolved to perish rather than
apply to my companion, or any other body, for relief; but Strap, who
knew my temper, and whose heart bled within him for my distress, after
some pause came to the bedside, and, putting a leathern purse into my
hand, burst into tears, crying, "I know what you think, but I scorn your
thought. There's all I have in the world, take it, and I'll perhaps get
more for you before that be done. If not, I'll beg for you, steal for
you, go through the wide world with you, and stay with you; for though I
be a poor cobbler's son, I am no scout." I was so much touched with the
generous passion of this poor creature, that I could not refrain from
weeping also, and we mingled our tears together for some time. Upon
examining the purse, I found in it two half-guineas and half-a-crown,
which I would have returned to him, saying, he knew better than I how
to manage it, but he, absolutely refused my proposal and told me it
was more reasonable and decent that he should depend upon me, who was a
gentleman, than that I should be controlled by him.

After this friendly contest was over, and our minds more at ease, we
informed our landlord of what had happened to us, taking care to conceal
the extremity to which we were reduced. He no sooner heard the story,
than he assured