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 his life; which entirely destroyed all my happiness.

Soon after this, being reduced to very great extremity, I was tempted to steal a small bundle out of an apothecary’s shop in Leadenhall Street, in which I found a suit of child-bed linen, fine lace, a silver mug and spoons, three shillings, and other matters. The next thing that I did, I inveigled a little child away, from which I took its gold necklace, but though I had it in a private place, I would not kill or hurt it, and put it in the way home again. Another time I took out of a shop at Stephney, two rings, one a diamond ring, and the other a plain one: and as I was once in Lombard Street, a thief being pursued, dropped a piece of silk, which I made off with, and afterwards disposed of to a good advantage, and not as thieves commonly do for a song. Another time I stole a silver tankard out of an alehouse, which I afterwards sold to a pawn-broke who greatly encouraged me in such things. She shortly afterwards helped me to a mistress, who made me more expert in the thieving art; but