‘ſatisfied with a leathern purſe is not eaſily a ſpendthrift, but one that, as the ſaying goes, knows how to keep his purſe-ſtrings tight;—now your tranſparent purſes of ſilk or gold twiſt are never out of the fingers of your prodigals; and then what wonder if they run out like a leaky caſk at an hundred holes? and though you pour ever ſo much in, ſtill they will always be empty.
My father earneſtly inculcated into all his ſeven lads this golden maxim: Children, whatever you do, do it in earneſt. So I drove on my trade with great zeal and perſeverance, but without bettering my condition. There came a dear time, war, trouble, and counterfeit coin, into the country. My brother purſe-makers thought, Baſe coin, baſe goods; but I ſaid to myſelf, Honeſty is always the beſt policy; ſo I parted with true wares for falſe money; laboured hard, till I brought myſelf to the beggar’s crutch; was expelled from
