Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/125



ITH my Wife this day to Weſtminſter, and walking thereabouts in Regent-Street and Oxford-Street, and the principal Streets, though contrary to my Reſolution to walk with her only in the Fields, but did it to pleaſe her, and keep her in good Humour, but in mighty Fear of what it might coſt me, trembling to obſerve her continually looking aſkance at the Shop-Windows. But I cannot wonder that they did catch her Eye; particularly the Haberdaſhers, and Drapers, and Mercers, whereof many were full of Bills, ſtuck in all Manner of Ways acroſs the Panes, and printed in Letters of from two Inches to a Span long, and Daſhes of Admiration two and three together, as ſtaring as a Notice of Hue and Cry. Mighty mocking to read in one Window, of a "Tremendous Sacrifice!" in another of an "Alarming Failure!!", in a third of a "Ruinous Bankruptcy!!!", by Reaſon whereof, the Goods within were a-ſelling off at 50, 60, or 70 per Cent under prime Coſt, but that at any Rate the Owners muſt raiſe Money. Good Lack! to think of the deſperate and dreadful Pals the Drapery Trade muſt have come to; ſo many Maſter-Mercers and Habcrdaſhers on the Threshold of the Priſon or the Workhouſe, and their Wives and Families becoming Paupers on the Pariſh, or Beggars, and their People out of Employ, ſtarving; if their Notices do tell true: which made my Heart ake, I mean, through laughing at their Roguery. But my Wife did ſay, very ſerious,