Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/161

Rh few of them obtain leave to go out, in order, as is said, to visit their friends; but the greater number are sent out by the master of the house (who is the contractor for their keep) that he may save their rations for the day! This is most glaring, when he gives them threepence in money, never more than fourpence each, with an assurance that the walk will do them good. They are expected to bring back broken victuals, or something else, for a regale at night.

Great annoyance is experienced, by many respectable people being applied to by beggars with letters and petitions, which they buy ready drawn up, and are couched in the most abject terms; stating their sufferings, and exaggerating their privations. They see your name upon the door, and address a letter to you; if they find out any of your acquaintance, they hesitate not to name them, or put down their signatures to a dirty list of subscriptions. They are mostly impostors, and deep ones, who adopt this scheme: they must be resisted tooth and nail; for if you relieve one you will have a shoal of his or her cronies upon the same errand, at due intervals. Pathetic addresses in the newspapers,—unless well-authenticated, are to be suspected. Some