d to keep one
hundred boys silent and attentive at church; for all which, with
deductions, I received 40 pounds a year, and found my own washing. I
stayed two years, during which time I contrived to save about 6 pounds;
and with that, one fine morning, I set off on my travels, fully
satisfied that, come what would, I could not change for the worse."

"Then you were about in the position that I'm in now," said Joey,
laughing.

"Yes, thereabouts; only a little older, I should imagine. I set off
with good hopes, but soon found that nobody wanted educated people--they
were a complete drug. At last I obtained a situation as waiter, at a
posting-house on the road, where I ran along all day long to the
tinkling of bells, with hot brandy-and-water ever under my nose; I
answered all the bells, but the head-waiter took all the money.
However, I made acquaintances there; and at last obtained a situation as
clerk to a corn-chandler, where I kept the books; but he failed, and
then I was handed over to the miller, and covered with flour for the
whole time I was in his service. I stayed there till I had an offer
from a coal-merchant (that was going from white to black); but, however,
it was a better place. Then, by mere chance, I obtained the situation
of clerk on board of a fourteen-gun brig, and cruised in the Channel for
six months; but, as I found that there was no chance of being a purser,
and as I hated the confinement and discipline of a man-of-war, I cut and
run as soon as I obtained my pay. Then I was shopman at a draper's,
which was abominable, for if the customers would not buy the goods, I
got all the blame; besides, I had to clean my master's boots and my
mistress's shoes, and dine in the kitchen on scraps, with a slipshod,
squinting girl, who made love to me. Then I was a warehouseman; but
they soon tacked on to it the office of light porter, and I had to carry
weights enough to break my back. At last I obtained a situation as
foreman in a tinman and cutler's shop, and by being constantly sent into
the workshop I learnt something of the trade; I had made up my mind not
to remain much longer, and I paid attention, receiving now and then a
lesson from the workmen, till I found that I could do very well; for,
you see, it's a very simple sort of business, after all."

"But still a travelling tinker is not so respectable as being in any of
the situations you were in before," replied Joey.

"There I must beg your p