Page:Pleasing art of money-catching (3).pdf/7

 they will presently tell you, “he's a very good man, I'll assure you:" though at the same time, with respect to his morals, he is as profligate a fellow as any in the whole parish, and one that lives by oppressing his neighbours, and doing all manner of injustice; his money making amends for all his enormities.

I knew a certain tradesman in London, that had an uncle, a rich covctouscovetous [sic] fellow, that was worth many a thousand; this poor man addressed himself to his uncle, to give him a £100 to set him up; but he knew the worth of money better than to part with it, before death forced it from him, and told him plainly, he would give him nothing while he lived, but it might be he would leave him something when he died, especially if he found him industrious, and that he put himself in a way to live. The poor man had but little money, and less credit, and how to put himself in a way to live he knew not, his trade being none of the best for journeymen. However, picking up a little credit at one place, and a little at another, he addressed himself to the company he was free of and would fain have borrowed £50 of them; but truly they would not lend it him, but upon such security as he could not procure in this extremity having put himself into a shop, he goes again to his uncle, to desire him to lend him a little money, telling him he had set up in trade, and was got into a shop, but wanted money to carry on his business, and desired him to lend him a little. His uncle finding he was getting into a way, out of his generosity lends him £20, but makes him give him a bond to pay him again in a year's time. The poor man had almost as good been without his money, as to have been under such