Page:History of Moll Flanders (4).pdf/12

 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-bedlinen, fine lace, a silver mug and spoons three shillings, and other matters. The next thing which I did, I inveigled a little child away, from whom 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 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-broker, 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 not more