ving first secured his property, he then
walked with me and a police officer to Bow-street. My innocent face,
and my tears, induced the old gentleman, who was a member of the
Philanthropic Society, not only not to prefer the charge against me, but
to send me to the institution at Blackfriars-road.

"I made rapid progress under their tuition, and after three years' close
application on my part, and continual inculcation, on the part of my
instructors, of the distinction between _meum_ and _tuum_, I was
considered not only a very clever boy, but a reformed character. The
Quaker gentleman, who had placed me in the institution, and who was
delighted with the successful results of his own penetration, selected
me as his servant, and took me home."

"Well, I'm glad you were so soon reformed," said Debriseau. "Where the
devil's my handkerchief?"

"Oh, I've not got it," answered McElvina, laughing. "But you are as
much mistaken now as the Quaker was at that time. A wild beast may be
tamed, and will remain so, provided he be not permitted again to taste
blood. Then all his ferocious propensities will reappear, and prove
that his education has been thrown away. So it was with me. At first,
I felt no desire to return to my old employment; and had not my master
trusted me too much, I might have remained honest. You often hear
masters exclaiming against the dishonesty of servants. I know it to be
a fact, that most of them have been made dishonest by the carelessness
of their employers, in having allowed temptations to lie in their way,
which were too strong to be resisted. My master used to send me up to
his bureau, for small sums which he required, out of a yellow canvas
bag, full of gold and silver. I am convinced that he frequently used to
give me the key, when in company with his friends, in order that, after
I had left the room, he might tell my history, and prove the beneficial
effects of the Society. One day the yellow bag and I both disappeared.

"I threw off the modest grey coat in which I was equipped, and soon
procured more fashionable attire. I looked in the glass, and scarcely
knew myself; I had, therefore, no fear of being recognised by my former
master. Not wishing to be idle, I hired myself out as tiger and valet
to a young nobleman, who was spending ten thousand pounds a year upon an
allowance of seven hundred. He was a complete _roue_, and I must
gratefully own that I learnt a great deal from him