Page:Storys of the three beggars (1).pdf/23

 My friend Jack did not despond; lie consoled himself with the reflection that he was a single man ; some of his misfortunes were the consequences of his own imprudence, others of unforseen accidents, and most of them originated from his good nature and generosity. He, however, never excused; he lumped them all together, took them in good part, and blamed nobody hut himself; he whistled away his troubles, and often repeated.

“ _ am out of Fortune’s power :

“ He who is down can sink no lower.”

The goddess, however, at last put on her best smiles, and paid Jack a visit in the King’s-Bench, in the shape of a handsome legacy. Jack smiled at the thing, being, as he called it, so extremely a-propos ! and once more mounted his nag. He now rode more cautiously, and turned into the road of Economy, which led to a comfortable inn with the sign of Competency over the door; he had borrowed a martingale from an old hostler called experience; and for the first time in his life used a curb. He began already to find, that though he did not gallop away as formerly, yet he went on in his journey pleasantly enough. Some dashing riders passed him, laughing at his jog-trot pace; but he had no occassion to envy them long; for presently some of them got into ruts, others