\ *K f E M O I R S OF A PEG-TOP By the Author of Adventures of a Pincushion. »"- l ^W - W i1 >„ - Thofe Trifles that amufe in life, Promote a higher end 3 Since Reafon in this lighter drefs, With pleaiure we attend. TORK: PRINTED BY T. WILSON AND R. SPENCE, HH OUS£GATjf. (price sixpence*) PREFACE. THE different inclinations, em- ployments,and amufements which engage tne attention of boys and girls, fuggefted to the Author of the follow- ing trifling performance, that fuch a deiign might not be ufelefs to fill up thofe intervals of leifare, which may occur to the former from their more important ftudies. With this view, therefore, it is now fubmitted to the candour of public infpediion, trufting for a favourable reception, more to the utility of the plan, than the merit of its execution. The indulgent atten- tion with which the Adventures of a Pincufhionhave been honoured, flatter- ed the writer with an opiniqn, that a work like the prefent might meet with equal fuccefs ; as the aim in both has been to promote the caufe of virtue, a 3 Vi PREFACE. and to blend the hints of inftruction with incidents of an amufing nature. The former work was defigned chiefly for the ufe of young Ladies ; this is evidently calculated for young Gentle- men : for although the laws of jaftiee, probity, and truth are of general obli- gation, yet, it was imagined, that by confulting different amufements and purfuits, and recommending the ac- compli foments feparaiely, in which each fex were more particularly con- cerned, the fubjecTs would become more interefting to thofe readers to whom they were immediately addrelT- ed, and have, in confequence, a bet- ter chance for approbation. MEMOIRS or a PEG-TOP. AS I have heard that a Pincujhion, a Dog, a Halfpenny, anda Bat k- Note, have each writ- ■ ten a hiflory of their adventures, I thought to my- ; felf one morning, when I was left upon a writing defk, that it would beaconvenient opportunity for me toimitatefuch examples, and that the memoirs | of a Peg-Top might proof equally entertaining with any of the beforementioned hiftories. So re- volving to recolleft the various fcenes I had paf- Jfed through, I determined to prefent my adven- itures, likewife, to the world, and fh z re in the ffame of thofe Authors, who had bellowed their 'labours to immortalize a particular animal or jftoy, while the reft of their fpecies were con* jjfigned to neglefl ortfblivion, I I was completed, gentle reader, into my pre- fent form on a Friday morning, and furveyed with great fatisfa&ion by the workman who had [aecomplifhed me, as the beft top he had ever produced. In the afternoon of the fame day he Qatried me, with numbers of my brethren, to a large toy-fhcp in Piccadilly ; where I was pre- j tented to the Mailer; and after being exarafeedj ,* 8 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. and having received great commendation from the mechanic who brought me thither, was tof- fed, with very little ceremony, into a large drawer with the companions who had accompa- nied me, and fome whom I never before faw. As we were all new, and had not as yet feen any thing beyond our prefent abode, and the bag in which we were conveyed to it, we regained ex- tremely filent and rcferved ; for you mull allow me the privilege of fuppofing, I can make known my fentiments to other inanimate fub- ftances, though I have not the powers of articu- lation ; as in effeft if you can imagine a top to be capable of writing and eompofttion> there will remain little difficulty in granting to it the li- cence of fpeech; all thefb talents being entirely inconfiftent with truth and reality, but may be allowed to exift by the force of imagination. Thus far having premifed^ as a neceffary pre- liminary to my hiftory, I ihal! continue to in- form you, that we had very little converfation with each other. A few indeed wifhed to make their efcape from this place of confinement ; and a poor top who had a piece broke off from one of its fide, very pathetically lamented, that it had feen three drawers full difpofed of, while it had lain always negledledon this account, and had been rolled out on the counter, and taken up as often as any purchafer appeared ; and, al- though offered to fale for half the price of its MEMOIRS OF A PEOTOP. O companions, had been to/led back with con- tempt, and was likely to remain in that folia- tion for ever. I felt a great degree of fympathy tor this unfortunate brother, and was juft going to exprefs my pity for his condition, when the drawer which contained us, was fuddenly pulled out, and a very genteel lady felected fome of us to prefent to a little boy in fcarlet clothes, 'who appeared to be about fix years o'd. The youth, however, defired leave to choofe for himfeif, telling the lady, whom he called mam- ma, that ihe did not underiland which would be a good /pinner : after handling almoftall that he law, he felected me as the bell of the whole collc&icm. The lady paid the price which was / X IO MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. a&ed for me, and I was put into mailer's pocket, who walked off not a attic pleafed with his pur- chafe. When we reached the houfe he was going to, which was a handfeme building in 67. James's Square y he took me out to (how to another child in petticoats, who cried fadly to pofTefs me ; but was told by his mamma, that I was his brother's property, and that Henry muft keep me, becaufe on Monday he was going to a loarding'jchooL Some company foon after coming it to the apartment, the lady defired fce^ fon to take care ef rne till a more convenient opportunity. I foon found by their cenverfation, my new matter had been brought up with great tender* nefs by his mother, who was a widow ; and was to go to fchool on the day above-mentioned for the firft time. That a greu number of toys had been purchafed to allure him into this meafure, and to foothc his farrows at the thoughts of fepa- ration. As he had no opportunity to play with me the remainder of the -evening, I fay fnug in his pocket till he went ro bed; when he took m£ out, and expatiated to a footman, who helped him to undrefs, on the plcafure he (hould have in amufing himfeif, and heartily wifhed the next day had not been Sunday, as it would prevent his enjoyment, Tfcls was certainly k fault, but MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. i i he was very young and inconsiderate ; and it is to be hoped that when he grew older he ac- quired more wifdom. The next day he did not Way with me indeed ; but he tock me out of his pocket a great number of times to look at ; and even while he was at church (which was highly blameable) felt, to know if 1 was fecure s a proof he was. but too inattentive to his emph ment. But greatly as [ had been favoured L his notice, the ;inie was now come when I w to experience his entire neglect. His met he-, who had cautiouily avoided the men:ion of his departure, in the evening his hand with fome emotion, and told him e 'hoped that now he was eoing to a diiiaiice from her xnftrudlions, he would not forget what fhe had t-ken fuch pairs to inculcate, 1 am afraid, my dear Henry, added fhe, wiping her eyes, as if 12 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. fome dull had flown in'o them, though in reality to clear them from thofe tears (he could not re- ftrain, I am fadly afraid, that when you have left home, you will pay but little attention to thofe admonitions which you have hitherto fo much regarded. There may, amongfl: the number of boys you will meet with at the large fchool to which you are going, be fome, who will wickedly laugh at your cbfervance of thofe duties, which, I flatter myfeif, you will always continue to refpeft. But remember there are fome obligations, my dear boy, which nothing on earth can difpenfe with. Among thefe is a ftrift regard to truth and fincerity. However your interefl: may lead you to the commiffion of deceit, be allured you will reap no fruit from its indi- gencies ; but remorfe in your own mind, and contempt from every one around you. If you are guilty of a fault, let me perfuade you ra- ther to fubr&It to the puniihment it deferves (and which may be often mitigated by an honed con fe ill on) then to endeavour to conceal it by a lie. You have always hitherto been above the commiflion of fuch an a£l of meannefs, and I only defign to caution you now, becaufe you will be expoled to thefe temptations from which I have ever been careful to fecure you. I truft, likewife, that you will be afliduous to cultivate a peaceable and kind difpofition ; for however fghtivg and revenge may be wrongly accounted IEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 13 flhe marks of fpirit x believe me, that true court never confiit in a willingnefa to offendy or a c us inclination to be difplealed. Thefe maxims vvhich you have hitherto been taught to irerence, will perhaps 2 derided by your fchcol-feilows, as the weak advice of a mother, who can know nothing of boyijh contentions. But I Ertiftj that you, my Ton, whofe affedlion for that mother is undoubted, wi 1 net fo ill re- -pay my folicitude as to defpife thefe inflru&ions when you are at a di fiance from my embracer, £e affured that I am your belt friend, and would lever deflre ycu to do, or forbear any thing, [which will not tend t ; make you beloved ^nd \ *efpe6lab!e. Henry, who had been holding me lis) his hand without any dekgn of playing from re time his moi began her difcourfe ; t ,«ii?!l km ill i — if iifl ^SL. ■ ■ ■ *" 'J ■ - \- I T, 14 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. had merely been rubbing me about with his fin- gers, now laid me hafiily on the table, and throwing his arms round her, fobbed forth an aiTent to her advice; alluring her that he- would never forget her admonitions, and that he loved her too weil to difobey them; while the lady, overcome by her fon's emotion, joined her tears with his, and embraced him with an equal ar- drur of tendernefs and affij&ion. As to ycur learning, faid fhe, after a paufe, I am perfuaded that emulation, and a defire to equal, if not ex- ceed your companions, will infpire you with application ; and I fhall be much difappcinted to hear that you are remifs in that article, I hope, that without considering it as a tafk, your affe&ion will difpofe you to write frequently to me, as \ou well know nothing can give me equal pleafure. The young gentleman was here fummoned to fupper, and left me on the table ; from which place I was not removed till the next morning, when a fervant haSily carried me down itairs to my mafter, who was in a poft-chaife with two gentlemen, and who put me with a melan- choly air into his pocket. I fhall not detain my readers with any account of cur journey, or the reception he met with from Mr. Verber, the pcrfon who kept the fchool; but proceeded to inform them, that Mafler Henry was condu&ed by this gentleman into the play-yard, where he left him : telling him to amule himfclf with his MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. I£ r.-ew companions. He wanted courage to ad- vance, and had rather have retired to Rive vent to the affli&ion which he felt at a reparation from his beloved mother, (and the defertion of his uncles who had accompanied him) that lady having declined the office from a fear of incre Sing Ids dilirefs. Some of the buys furveyed him in filence; and quietly marched off ; the older ones took no notice of a child fo much their inferior, ! and feme of the young ones proclaimed the nival of a' new boy, with a ncife to which he was quite unaccustomed. Several, however* whofe diffidence was feldom any reftraint, ac- ofled him wivh an inquiry after his name, family, and place of abode; ad concluded with iking in the technical term of fchool, whether lie had brought any prog, To lad queftion, |a s he really did not underftand it, H^nry returned |no anfwer till it was explained to mean, whether he had any cakes, &c, to difpofe of. He replied in the affirmative; but his baggage was not ia phis peffeffion, and therefore he cuuld not Catisfy their demand. At laft, however, he took me frcm bis pocket, and was going to play h a Igreater degree of fredom than Hi fl med, ^vvhen, with forne furprife, he heard the boys fcddrefs him and each o: by I ir Jimames, Ivithotat any diftin&ion of Ma/Ier, or Sir, to which terms he had always b ei accuftorned* He mace this obfervation the next day to one of Bz l6 MEMOIRS OF A PBG-TOP. his play-fellows, and was, in confequence of it, ridiculed with the appellation of Sit-Majier; an epithet which was intended to convey peculiar derifion.' Henry foon found that his fkill in fpinning a top, was greatly inferior to his companions; and a great boy one day who liked my ap- pearance, told him, he would exchange tops with him, or offered to tofs up fur me, to which he ignofantly confented. A halfpenny was produced, and Henry twice c iled out heads, and it turning up the reverie, I was declared the property of Frank Powel, to the great dif appointment of my mailer, who did not like to refign me, and who had not under; raood the in- tention of the propofal, he wanted much to keep me in his poff ffion. All the boys, however, being unanimous in the opinion, that matters had been fairly conducted, I was reluctantly delivered by poor Henry to a new owner, Powel was near ten, remarkably fprightly and active, and eiteemed by his companions one of the clevereft boys in the fchool. He furveyed rne with great pleafure, and ran to a number of his play-mates, who were playing at peg-top in a circle. My mafter foon entered me in the lift, and 1 was unfortunately fo little acquainted with the game, that I did not underftand how to extricate myfelf. I met here with two of *ny brethren, who informed me, that ail our MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. »7 fpecies who were introduced into this fatal in- clofure, would attempt to fplit us, and make their own efcape: and I had a melancholy proof of the truth of this intelligence in the very ttop who communicated it, as it immediately experienced the fate above- mentioned ; and, I faw with horror, one which belonged to my own rnafter cleave it through the middle. 1 he peg, which was a valuable one, as it was of ten acorni* was immediately declared to be his prize- aui he took it up with an air of triumph and fatis- faction. It is impoUtble to defcribe the un- eafmefs I felt at this fpeclacle, which was increaied when another w r as thrown in, which approached fo near as twice to aflault my fides with ereat v :v: the third time, however,, B 3 » I 8 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. effe&ed my deliverance, and drove me beyond the limits which had been marked for the con- teft. Po\Vel (hatched me up with an ardour of joy, and the b^Jl then ringing for fupper, he hailened in, and devoted the reft of the time, till he went to bed, to execute the talk which Mr. Verber had allotted him. The quick manner in which he defpatched, and the facility with which hq comprehended his learning; gained him the favour of his mailer, and excited the envy of his fchool- fel- lows. But the conftant good-nature with which lie behaved to them* inclined them at the fame time to love and refpeft him. His invariable honour, and uncorrupted honefty had been fo often diftinguifhed, that Mr. Verber deputed to his charge, the payment of their weekly allow- ance to about twenty boys. His commiffion he had executed with univerfai credit and fatis- fadlion ; till one day, when Jack Growler, who was of a moil wicked and malignant difpofition, declared that he had been cheated of iixpence, and that he would appeal to his mafter for red re fs Powel, whofe only fault was in general to be too paflionate in the vindication of his condutt, difdained on the prefent occafion to anfwer the charge, and treated Growler with the moft provoking contempt, telling him, that he was welcome to make what complaints he pleakd, MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 19 fince he neither feared nor cared for his ao cufation. This behaviour inflamed Jack fo much, that though he foon after found the money, which he had dropped when he received it, he was yet determined to be revenged : and both going ep to fhow their exercife to Mr. Verber at the fame time, he fliiy flipped the fixpence in debate, and which was a very remarkable one, having a hole direclly through the middle, into Frank's pocket, and foon after alleged, that when Powel had paid him ninepence, which was the fum due to him, he had taken back the fixpence, and refufed to reftore it, declaring: that he had paid the whole. Mr. Verber immediately fummoned the ac- 20 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOT. cufed party to ciefe d himfelf, who very warmly retorted upon Growler the charge of meannels, malice, and detra&ion, and decSarea that he had delivered him the whole ; proteftmg in the moil iblemn manner, that he had never touched or ieen it fince His companions joined in this account, and confirmed it by faying, the money was as remarkable as I defcribed. Upon which their 'mafter ordered them both to be fcarched, which afforded no fmall degree of pleafute to Growler, who firft. fubmuted to the command, and ef- caped with greater honour xhan fell to the (hare of the innocent Powel, in whofe pcfTeffion the fixpence was found. Amazed, confounded , and provoked to the higheft degree at this un- expected accident, my poor mafter could not contain his indignation. He loudly repeated his proteftations of innocence, and laid the blame of treachery and deceit with ^reat juftice on his accufer. Eut itill appearances were fo much in his disfavour, that Mr. Verber flernly told him, his paffions riling to fuch excefs, was a confirmation of his guilt; adding, that unlefs he could clear hirnfelf from the imputation, he muft expert the fevereft puniihment, as his crime appeared of the moft complicated nature ; comprehending a charge of deceit, lying, and fraud; crimes of fucb magnitude, as he never did, nor ever would pardon. He then ordered J^m to deliver up the money with which he had MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 21 been entrufted, as he was not worthy the office of his fecretary, till his character was cleared, and his innocence nude manifeli. He was ordered likewife to confinement in a fmall room, which was called the Baftile> becauie it had but one window, which was a (ky-light; and who- ever was thought deferving this puaiihment, was banifhed from ail the reft of his companions, and fecluded from every aniufement. All the toys which were found in his pocket were con- fifcated to Mr. Verber, who took me as part of that number, and depolited me in a drawer in his own fiudy; where 1 remained in a Itate of quietnefs and inadlion for (orae time. The companions of my fecluded ftate were a tea-tot um> which had been feized from a boy who fpun it in fchool-time when he ought to have been writing; a bag of marbles that had forfeited their liberty from their mailers having rolled them on the feat of the pew at church ; together with an exceeding good ball, which had been thrown up againft the houfe, and made its way through the parlour window ; and a drum bat- tledore, and curious Jhuttfecock, which the owner had ufed in fchool-time, when he was deipatched on another errand ; and which had prolonged his flay nil Mr. Verber had discovered his em- ployment. After fome time this gentleman took me out, and prefented me once more to his favourite Povvel, whoie character had been fully 1 A 22 MEMOIttS OF A PEG-TOP. vindicated, and as I fo^n learned; and who was now reinftated in his mailer's favour, and reflored to his former diftinction. With a fmile of complacence, Mr. Verber gave me back to my mailer, and aflured him, it was with the greateft pleafure he congratulated him on the complete manifeftation of his innocence : at the fame time, faid he, I mull blame you for that Indifcreet warmth, with which, on all occafions, you are apt to defend yourfeif ; arid which will ever be an injury to the beft caufe ; and I allure you more inclined me to imagine you guilty, than any other argument could have done* Be convinced, Povvel, that virtue can never be ajpfted, but may be often hurt by the indulgence of paffion. However, I trufl that you will havefo much good fenfe as to improve from the con- fcioufnefs of part failings: and 1 do infill upon your giving up all thoughts of perfonal revenge againft your accufer, wfiofe punilhment I (hall take into my own hands; and i hope that you are too generous, to think of bearing future ill- will and enmity againft him* fince the beft way to prove your own fuperioricy and merit, will be by a generous forgtvenefs ; and I (hould be extremely forry to be obliged, through your violence to him, to involve you in a fimilar condemnation. Powel expreiled his fatisfadion at his mailer's approbation, and thanking him MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 23 for the continuance of his confidence, with a low bow he left the room. Jack Growler, as I afterwards found, had difcoverd his treachery, by boailing of its fuc- ceis to one of his friends; and rejoicing in that plan of revenge, which had involved the in- nocent Powel in difgrace. Bat being overheard by his tnafter, he had punifhed his wickednefs by a kvzre flogging, and obliged him publicly to afk pardon, and hkewife for fome weeks de- prived him of his allowance, as that had been theinflrumentof hismalevoience. And, indeed, I have often had occaiion to remark in the fcenes in which I have been engaged, that however vice may triumph for a time, it is generally difcovered in the end, and meets with its de- ferved retribution, Soon after I was reHorcd to mv matter, he went with four other boys, (who Had likewife obtained leave fo to do) to a neighbouring vil- lage, in order to purchafe whipcord, ginger- bread, marbles, and fuch other things as they wanted. Juit as they fet out for this purpofe, Powel coming behind one of the party, whofe name was Tom Swallowell, toffed his hand- kerchief over his head, and afked him how he fhould like to wa^k all the way blindfold! Why, I fhould not mind it a it raw, returned he, and could find the path, I warrant you, without any affiltance. I'll lay you fixpence, to be fpent 24 MEMOIRS OF A PBTG-TOP. in cheefecakes, which we will buy of the old pye- woman, faid Powel, that you tariirot go as fa/as the turnpike wi: ■ (lance, if your eyes are >undup. ied Tom, and I'll bet you [peace that I c I promii'e that you will not let me run into danger without telling me of it; neither by going in the way of horfes, or tumbling into a ditch. Thefe articles agreed to, Swallo^ell flood flill while they bound a handkerci fe over his eves, pnsr»» r*=r:r ^=- 7 »*m m \ K^\ ilk =~^HL-J-\ |rt ViMll^a23 \ _,',! i!|f| I— MBM'TVf and he groped forward on his way. Torn, yon muft know, was remarkably fond of eating; and fpent all his money in the purchafe of- tarts, fruit j and fuch kind of thin ; and at this time reduced to < r nee 01 - , r> p» MEMOIR'S OF A PEG-TOP, 2> (o that he couldnothave immediately difcharged his wager, had he loft it. At he was fo fond of good tilings, he would make trial of whatever came in his way, and tafte all that was offered him; by which means he was often difappointed, and fometimes made extremely fick. He had purfued his courfe in various directions, to the great entertainment of his companions; fome- times on one fide of the road and fometimes on the other ; one minute feeling for a poll, which he thought he had arrived at, againft the rails of a houfe; at another, groping for a tree ia the middle of a highway; and, in fhort, ap- peared entirely ignorant at which part of his journey he had arrived. When they had got: near halfway, Mother Mix well, the pye- woman, met them, and Tom was very earneft to tafte fome of the contents of her bfket. Will Grinmote determined to purchafe a laugh on the occafion, and offered him a cuftard if he couid eat it without uncovering his eyes. That- Torn agreed to be no impediment, and Will, with the afliftance of the reft, prepared his prefent, by .mixing with it a good quantity of cow-dung, which lay very opportunely in the road, fome cattle having jaft palled in heir way to a neignbouring farm. Swallowell, whofe greedy difpofition always engaged him to take a large mouthful, very eagerly received the cuftard ; but had foon occafion to repent his C 20 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP* hafte, and without thinking of his wager, (one of the conditions of which was, that he (hould on no occafion remove the bandage) he haftily pulled off the handkerchief and began fpitting and fputtering in a manner truly diverting, Powel foon demanded his fixpence, as the forfeit of unbinding his eves; but Tom very angrily refufed. declaring that he had been cheated, and that the filthy cuftard had been given him as a concerted .roeai'ure to make him lofe the wa^er. Powel denied the charge* but refented fuch an afffont to his honour, and Grinmore having diverted himfelf fome time with the anger of both parties, at length avowed that it was entirely his doing, and that Frank was wholly innocent of fuch an infidious defign. This, however, did not fatisfy the difpleafed Swallowell. who Hill retained the tafte of the cow-dung flrongly in his mouth. He, therefore, gave Powel a blow on his head as he was flooping to buckle his fhoe. This daftardly trick was foon returned by Frank with fome violence, who declared himfelf unwilling to fight; but that he would not tamely iland ftill to be thrafhed in fuch a cowardly manner, by a boy to whom he was much fqperior. After drubbing him fome time he walked on with his companions, and left battered Tom rolling in the middle of the road, to tafte a fecond time, vi: cow-dung which had occafioned the quarrel, MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TO?. 2 7 Ci. nd into the midft of which his antagonift had thrown him. Jufi as he was rifing, and trying to wipe off the dirt and dufl which his clothes %\ere covered with he was overtaken by Mr. Verber, who was taking a walk with Powel's father, that gentleman having arrived a fhort time before on. a vifit to his fon. /» The matter inquired of Swallowell the cauf< of his being in that dirty and mounded con- dition : of which being informed, he fent him home and purfued his walk in queft of his ad- verfary. Thefe particulars I learned from a friend of my mailer's, to whom Tom com- municated them on his return. 23 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. Powel in the mean time arrived at the village, and having pqrchafed the neceffaries he fet out to procure, £at down on a ftyie to eat fome gingerbread; after wJiich he took me out, and was juft going to try my {kill in pegging a halfpenny, when Mr. Verber and his "father arnved. This unexpected fight afforded him great pleafure, and he accompanied the latter to an inn in the above-mentioned village, where he had b fpoke a dinner, promifing to return vnxh hi- fon, and drink tea with Mr, Verber; that gentleman after mutual compliments, ieav- ing us to return home. I (ball pais over the numberlefs inquiries which my matter made after every individual of his family, not for- getting Ball, the b : ack coach horfe, and his companion Smiler; together with a great many questions after Rover, the young pointer, aud old HoQ^fty, the great yard dog; all which his fa r anfwered very kindly, and. much to his fa .ciion. But as the re der is not acquainted with Miis Polly his fitter, or M.fs Patty his little coufin, and a thoufand Jacks, Toms, and Harrys, about whofe welfare he appeared to be extremely felicitous, 1 fh il omit tnefe particulars to give fome ace t of the advice which his father afterwards thought proper to give him, previous to their reparation. He began by inquiring into rhe character of Swallowell, and Powel toid him, that he was a good-natured MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 2(J boy enough, but \o greedy, that he w.is the jeft of the whole fchool, every one taking pleaiure to cheat him into a trial of fome disagreeable tafle. And I find you have this morning been of that number, replied his father which llhould not be much inclined to blame ? as fuch a hog- like difpofition is a jufl iubjedl of ridicule. But I am very forry, Frank, the warmth of your temper has hurried you to add offence to raillery, and that you have concluded by fighting, what you began in play. You well know, my dear boy, the frequent caution I have given you upon this fubjedt. 1 would by no means have you a coward, or afraid of being hurt ; but to be ever ready to Itrike, or return a blow, is a proof of the violence of your paffion, but no argument of the juflice of your caufe. If the boy you engage with is younger than yourfeif, it is the higheft degree of meannefs to take fuch an unfair ad- vantage of his inferiority; and if he is older, you ftand but a bad chance. Nor do I think fuch contelis either prudent or honourable be- tween equals in age and firengtb* To forgive an injury, and overlook an affront, is a much higher inftance of true magnanimity, than to obtain the molt complete conqueft: and, in general, thole are molt ready to fight, who have been the aggreffors, and commenced u;e dif- pute : but an ill adtion is not rendered more excuieabk, or an unfair advantage reconciled c 3 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. to jufnce by the blows of paffion, or the taunts of provocation. Let me perluade you, there- fore, to forbear this ungenerous ufe of that ftrength which was beftowed for nobler pur- poses ; and end urmg to make yourielf be- ved for your kindnefs. rather than feared for n r rrfentment. !!!!»! !!$M> Ml !/ ill ii niium ml pi », III I i I f : j 1 IIP! ' aj , VIM '■' - v 4 ilitiiSlil 1 illllllil:!? ■1 I ■^ and begged he might keep me; to which Powel confenting, I became Ben Playful's pro- perty. I was now always in ufe: for my new matter thought but little of his ftudies, though his negleft met with frequent difgrace. In the morning he was continually in fuch a hurry, that he fcarce knew which of his leffbns to attend ; and ic was no unufual thing to fee him employ the little time he had in fearching for his books, which were generally thrown by with carelefs indifference the moment fchcol hours were over. It may be eafiiy imagined, 34 MEMOIRS OF A PEG- TOP. that in this muation he made greater proficiency in his play than in his learning; and indeed he was furpafied in the one by many boys of fevcn, though he was himfelf ten years old : while in every amulement he was coniidered as the firft leader* and the moll expert of the whole fociety. I had focn reafon to repent the difpofuion of my new mafler; for although he commended me extremely, yet he complained that I w r as too heavy, and propofed a plan for my improvement which I fhudder to relate, It was on a Saturday afternoon, that he began to put in execution his cruel project. And, ah ! gentle reader ! will you not fympathize with my fufFerings, when I inform you, that this deteft- able fcheme was no other than to extract my peg, and infert it in another top ? My appre- henfions on hearing fuch a dreadful intention were beyond description; and had I been capable of tears, to be fure I (hould have wept moll plentifully. This relief was however denied, and all I could do, was patiently to expedl my fate. Nor indeed would the pro- fpeft have been at all improved, by the in- dulgence of thofe lamentations which are pecu- liar to the human fpecies. No one, I fuppofe, likes to be in pain ; but it is furely a great degree of weaknefs and extremely unmanly, to cry and blubber upon every occafion, as I have feen fome boys do^ while they at the fame time MEMOIRS OF A PEC-TOP. 35 refufe the neceflarv means of relief, and endure that uneafinefs of which they are fo impatient, bscaufe they want refolution to take fome naufeous medicine which is prefcribed as a cure for their diforder. I felt wiih the molt dread- ful apprehenfion t e Itri. g twifted right round my peg, while federal boys flood by, as un- feeling fpeftators of my agony. They foon retired to the dillance of a few paces to fecure themfelves from the danger of a blow, which they juftly apprehended i might be the occafion of: nor., indeed, had this precaution been omitted, could i poflibly avoid fuch an accident. My maiter likewife took care to retreat behind a tree, while he fwung me with all his force againft its fides ; till at length overpowered by by the blows, i felt myfelf divided, and my head flew oft' with impetuofity to a confiderabie diiiance, and lighting on a large bell-giafs. (which the gardener had put down, while he opened a gate through which he wanted to pafs) and broke it into a thoufand pieces. The Confternatidn which this misfortune had caufed, for a time fufpended the attention of my tormentors, and Playful appeared to be ex- tremely apprelienfive of the confequence. The gardener immediately feizcd on his fhoulder, and declared he fhould appear before his mafter, and anfv/er for the accident, which would otherwife be imputed to his negligence. To ^6 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. this Ben had great objections: firft, becaafe he expected Mr. Verber to be difplcafed with the fracture of the glafs, and for a fecond reafon, as he had omitted, for the fake of performing the above operation, to learn a talk which he had been ordered to get perfectly before night. His refinance was however in vain; fo patting my peg into his waiftcoat pocket, and the gardner taking my head in his left hand, while with the right he dragged my mafter along, we pro- ceeded to the great parlour, where we found Mr. Verber, two ladies, and a gentleman. The complaint was foon preferred again!! my larger part, which very narrowly efcaped from certain deftru&ion; Mr. Verber at the conclufson of the account, toiling me, without the leait concern, 3 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 37 into the fire; which, fortunately for rne, hap- pened to have a large quantity of frefti coals juft Said on ; fo that I did not immediately fuffer from that conflagration; of which I was terribly* a/raid. My cafe, however, feemed to be def- perate ; and although the readtr may be anxious to hear the fate of my mailer, he mult remember, that it is the Memoirs of a Peg-Top he is read- ing, and that therefore I confider rnyfelf as the principal objedl of his attention, I fhail con- sequently take the liberty of firft informing hirn what were my own reflections in thisdifmal fix- ation ; before [concern myfelf to releafe Ben Playful, who is all this time Handing in a Hate or frightful iuipcnit before his mailer, and lift, emng to the accufation of the gardener. As a D 3*6 MEMOIRS OF A rEG-TOP. top when divided, as I then was, is jull as ca~ jnbJe *of thought, as when in the moft perfeft condition, hoth paits having tht power of imagination when ieparated,, if fuch is the will of fancy to Le-ftow ; becaufe as none hut human beings can poiTefs tfeefe properties which I now foppofc, fo it is equally eafv to imagine, thai. the peg and the head can both underftand a language, and refie whfefl the poi~ feflbr is illiterate or ilhbred, Bad fpel or bad EngHfh, are certam indications bf'ioearirkfsi and will be always co.ihdercd as fuch : and if you are not attentive to acquire a thorcugh .^aowiedge of your £ramrr;ar, yen will never a: any age be able to fpeak'with propriety, or write with elegance. The far.her y6u advance in learning, the moie agreeable you will find it; but by *rrit\g your bafinefs for the fake of playng a 1 i t 1 e longer, you multiply vour trou- bles, and introduce fuch ccnfufion iii the dif~ pofition of your time, as involves you in perpe- tual difficulty. Young people are felddm to be perfuaded, that the fir it part of their days is the od/Teaion for the attainment of knowledge; i>3 4 Z MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP-. bat believe roe, Playful, if you negleft the pre- sent opportunity of improvement, you will have reafon to repent your folly to the lateft hour of your life. My mafier very feriouilv attended to the con- clufion of this good advices but, before he re- tired, again imreated to have me reiiorrd. I was accordingly delivered to him with repeated charges to behave better, which he promifed faithfully to comply with. The next morning he rofe very early with an intention of keeping- his word ; but, unluckily, in feeling for his handkerch ef, my head roiled cut at the fame tin e from his pocket. The temptation of completing his cop before fchool time' became t o great t . be refilled, and going to fome of his companic is who had been of his r-;ry the preceding* day, a cojifultation w?s held co determine to what top my peg (hould e joined : when after various experiments with federal others, it was decreed, that my divided pa*t§ fh< ud be again re-united ; and Playful haftily taking his hat, fcraped of a little as t Jay on his kuee, and applying it to the end of my peg, in hopes of making it fpin lighter, thrttft h ence more ioto its former portion. As he had id ; d a fide his books for the* fake of fiaifitiitg the .improvement in his too, which the ay before he had begun, he found ic impoffible to wichftaivd the inclination of at leaft trying MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 4 J how I fhould fpin ; and finding me much lighter than before, he went on vviih another and another tiial, inuniing e-ch one fiiould be the lafc, hjs conscience fuggefiingai! the time, the danger to wh'ch he expofedhimfelf, of offending his matter by a v faiion of his promife. He v. as twilling t^e ftnrg rour : a qui a. e ecu ove his fingers, telling his ichoohkr a&uaily would play no longer c.an i kept U] went into his ftiidies, when the fchopl bell ran and pbli^ed him to attend its dreaded, but uii voidable lummons. With a heavy heart he rut me into his pocket and going 10 a bench in the yard, wher he bad left i:, rook up his book, reading his lefibn over as he flowly crept along, till flopping a collider- 44 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. able time at a window in a paffage which led to the fchool, one of the clhers came foftly behind, and giving Rim a hearty ftroke with a cane upon his fhoulders, told him to quicken his pace, for he was always la but finding his MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 53 arguments were inefi |, left him with re- gret. My new mafter employed himfelf in thumping his fhoulder againft a mileftofce, with an intent to bruife it ojefted, but i-vinfg a great objei every kir.d of pain, his knocks were fo s to make but little impreflion. He'afterwai tofcratch his face, firfl with his i , which he wanted refotution to ufe effe&uaTly, and afterwards wi tec'eof bramble it h lie tore out of a hedge, and which fucceeded better than he wiihed, as a thorn got into his eye, and occa- fioned the mod violent agony : a juft reward for the wickedrJbfs of hi i, in io wil- fully refolvlng to deceive his mafter. His ei\- *h urs :.o extract it proviri . quits ineffectual, 54 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-' he flood (creaming with the pain for fome time, and at laft hurried home leaving Trot to i raze along the iide of the road, which he did very quietly. As loon as he reached Mr. Bakeall's, he went into the kitchen, where the whole family were fitting down to dinner on a fhoulder of mutton and potatoes, which came fmoakihg from the oven as he entered. George told a pitiful, but a falfe tale of the accident which had ; eye, and the fituation in which he had left the cart, declaring he. could not fee to find old Trot; but imagined he was at no great di fiance from the cart. His mailer, imllrefs, their d --liter, and the man who i in , all by turns endeavoured to e#tT36i the t n : k >t'his eye elbfe , by which means it its way fiill farther, and far the i t more dan- £ us. The uifn growing almoft infup- P 0i n iler took him to a Mr. Keen, i in the village, who declared the cafe :e a very b. le, and though he got it out a ft, it was with the preateft decree of c faculty. - ■ th m inquired by what means it had hap- pened, and Mr. Bakeall it the account which d from George; adding, that nan waj gone to iee what was become of . At the conclufion of the [EMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP, 55 hiftory, Mr. Keen hoped there was no lie in the cafe, as he faw MealwelJ at play with ano- ther boy at peg-top; and the horfe and cart Handing without a driver in the road, as he came from vifiting a patient, He laid likewife, that he knew the other boy by light, and be- lieved it to be Charles Heedmore the fhoe- maker's Ton. George, who was now in a terrible fright, was yet unwilling to confers that he had told an untruth; fo to prove the veracity of his former affertion, was obliged to fupport it by repeated lies. Thus does the commiffion of error lead to nurnberlefs crimes-; and ills firft fault in leaving his buiinefs to attend imfeafon- ly to his play, was the occafion of fuch a train of wicktdneLs and guilt. Mr. Bakeall, who before the prefent event, had never any rzal'on to fufpett the veracity of his apprentice, was ftrongly inclined to give credit to the hiftory he had related ; yet, at the fa 'lie time, thought it neceflary to difcover the truth, that the iccceis of a lie, if it be proved to be one, might not encourage him to any Lure deceit. He accordingly fir it lea relied his pocket, and finding rne there, was rather ftaggered in his good opinion of Meahvell, as knew he had not a top in his poffcffion in e moraine, having heard him at breakfaft wiih he could afford to purchafe one. Taking 56 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP* me, therefore, in his hand, he left George in the charge of Mr. Keen, and proceeded to Heedmore's father's, in hopes of learning fur- ther about the affair. Having told his bufinefs, the old man de- fired him to walk into a little room behind his ihop, and he would as foon as his fon came home, whom he every moment expedted, make theinquiries he wiihed, and that the door being left open between he might be an ear wknei's to his replies. This propofal being afftnted to, Mr. Bakeall feated himfelf in readinefs, and Charles very foon entered the (hop. His father immediately inquired what had occasioned his yg ftyz^ ' c i g ^-'-^sgg^r K- ■■' ii! ■ - - ■ ." ' '<4R -iM$M t being at home to dinner? To w q^eftian he at nrft returned no ani ■ ItEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 57 upon its being repeated, he honeftty faid, he cid not like to teli, becaufe another perfon was concerned' with him on the occaiion of his (lay ; however, laid he, I wi!i acknowledge thus far, that I foolifhly loitered away my time, for the fake of a game with the belt Peg- Top I ever Jaw. And was you at fchool as foon as you ought to have been? faid his father. Why, I caa't fay I was, replied ne ; and my maiter was extremely angry, and would now the cimfe; and he blamed me very much for my idlenefs; but in confideration of having told the truth, he did not punifh me; which he faid, he fhould otherwife have done. But I am afraid, father, when you know what has been the con*' iequence of my folly, you will be lefs merciful. Why, pray, what has ? faid Mr. Heedmore, in a voice fufficiently Rem to have intimidated a boy of lefs honour than honeft Charles. Don't be angry, and you {hall know all ! The pair of fhoes which I was to have delivered to far- mer Trudgeman, I lofl while I was at play, I laid them down on the m one, and till I inie home, never o^ce thought of them again : and though i then r < to the place as fait as I could, 1 were gone* You loft the (hoes ? stun his Father. Why, child, you never hem ! I gave them to jack to carrv home, you can't have them, for you have never been in the hcuie £nce. 53 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TO?. Here was a fubterfuge, by which Charles, had he been ib inclined, might for the prefent have laved himielf, and iaid the blame on his brother. But diidaining fuch an ungenerous and bale artifice, he added, that he was very ferry for his fault, but he had loit the ihoes; for Jack had met hiai when he firil came from ichool, and defired him as he was eoin£ with the circular letters, to carry them with him. His father then infilled upon knowing with whom he had been at play, as probably they had been ftolcn by his companion. Charles affured him that could not be the cafe; and afterwards in vindication of his friends cha- racter, declared it was George Mealwell ; but mtreated his father on no account to reveal what he had told him to any one. What is your reafon, Charles, rejoined Mr. Heedmore, for requiring filence r was there any great crime in playing with you at p^g-top ? To be fure you was waiting the time in which you- fhould have been getting ready for fchool ; but why is Mealwell fo much afraid of its being known ? Ah ! Father, replied Charles, making his head, I wifh he may have no more to anfwer for than 1 have; but in confidence i will tell you, that when we parted, he was de- termined to tell his mailer fuch a (h ocking lie out the cart, which the one-eyed horfe ran aw. with and broke, and to hurt his own KEMOr&S OF A PEG-TOP. 59 eves, and bruife bis fhoulder, to the truth of his ilory, tint it has quite altered my opi- nion of him ; though indeed [ believe him to be ffxi&ly honeit, and that he wouid not cheat any bodv for the world. Jin':-, ^^f-T-— ~" r ig life* Jmflm I II; wft Thofe who are fo wicked as to lie, returned IV 1 r Heedmore, will g'uilcy (at lea it are to be fiifpe&ed) of any c -, (ince to forfeit your word', is to break -y tie of honour ; 'tis like the hemp with wh: ■ few the {hoes, Charles ; if that fails, they will come in pieces, you know, and be rotten, and good for nothing. So if people lay one thing, and mean another* there is no knowing when you may truft their ie. 60 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. But pray, how came the beaft to fet off? he looks /taid and fteady enough ! I ifoould never fufpeft him of a prancing freak ! Why, father, replied Charles, we were bufy on the ground upon the left hand fide of the road, and George had juft taken up a Top in a wooden ipoon* which he had in his pocket, and as ill-luck would have it, a drove of noify cackling geefe came waddling along, with two men with thofe abominable long flicks and a rag at the v end; fo that altogether frightened Trot, and he took to his heels before we were aware, and though we directly made after him, yet he galloped with the cart, till he came clofe to farmer PloughwelPs great dunghill, and on a hillock of dirt, tumbled himfelf down, and pverfet bread, and every thing elfe. The quartern loaves, and threepenny, and pecks, and two bags of flour, all rolled into the middle of the road ; but as it is a dry day, that was no great harm ; the worft matter of all was, the cart was broken, and the harnefsm'uch damaged, and fo for fear his mailer fhould be angry, as he certainly wo veil was refol to lie, and get t way if he :an. And d deavc tquired father) top.) ncttodoio? for to know that his mil nd I , was not n ch like eft -■. . Yes, that [ 'L a: he would J] MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 6l own way, and cleared me to march home; and fo 1 did at laft, when I found all I could fay was to no purpofe. Well, you are a good boy, faid Mr. Heed- more, but I hardly think it right to know he is telling fuch a faifehood, without letting it be known; and I think his mailer ought to be acquainted with his tricks. He then concluded with lamenting the lofs his fon's carelefinefs had occasioned; but faid, he would convince him that he was not lefs merciful than his fchooi- m idler, by pardoning his fault for the fake of encouragement to his veracity: afTuring him* that truth would be at ail times its own reward, After receiving his father's acquittal, Charle walked away with the cheerful appearance of confcious innocence, and Mr. Bakeall came forward to take his leave. He fooa returned to the terrified Meahvell, who in the mean time had fuffered all the uueafinefs of a guilty conscience, being afraid of dete&ion, punifh- nient, and contempt. His mafler informed Mr. Keen of the fuccefs of his vifu, and con- cluded with high commendations of Charles Heedmore: and after which, turning to George, he faid very calmly, you had good reafon to think I fliould have been angry at an accident, w r hich has happened entirely from your idlenefs and folly. But you lhalJ find, my lad, that your trimming (hall be prcttv handfomdv increafed, F i the lies yen hive tohj about it! So faying he took him by the :noulJer, I turned him towards the door. If ^ I mim i Mr. Keen hoped his eye would foon be well, and laid, he was ferry he had behaved in (o wicked a manner as to defer veVBaiii fern ent\ but hoped., it woui J be a warning to him in future, that in d: a wrong adtion no one csn be fure of fecrecy ; and that to be feitfcful to truth apon all occafions, is the only way to be fecure from evil. He then took bis leave, and his vifitors departed. George trudged filently on, with a heavy heart, behind his mailer, who had mifuruier- fiobd Mr. Keen's c'xpreffion ahovernenuoned, of a. warning, and called out to him to quicken '«•* MOIRS OF A ITOTOP. us pace. add mg, yes, yes die furpeon fays I'll give you a ivdrming with a vengeance! you fhall not be cold in a hurry, I'll warrant v.ou ! Conie aSoR? you J y insr do£ ! I'll try whether you can feel iriy hcrfe-whip as foon as you get home; and as fcr your eye, if you had quite l(yil it, it would have been but what you tieierved This threat, it may be well imagined, did not make George more willing to proceed. So taking hold of his arm, Mr Bakeall, who was near the houfe, drapoed CO him on, and firft examined tile bruife on his fhoulder^ which was fcarce vifible, but which he prornifed his ltrokcs fhould much increafe ; and then leading him to a tree in a little yard, wnere the man was entering with old Trot and the fluttered cat, he fnatched his whip in a hurry, and tying him up wii-i fome rope, which had fattened the broken liamels, thrafhed him fp violently, that the blood followed his itrokes before he concluded ; which was fuflGU ciently vifrble, as he had taken off his clothes before he began Hi s eaded an affair of which J had been the innocent occafion, and vi hicli George imagined he in fome meaiure revenged in a fhort time af;er, wheal finding me on the feat of an old t < chair, where Mr. Bakeall Had thrown me, he took me up, and i rjie with as much warmth as if 1 had \ able to ad mvfe] concluding with r 64 MEMOIRS OF A PEG TOP a declaration, that I fhould never again get him a thrafhing; and that but for me, he had been in a whole fkin. So faying, he whirled me with great violence into the high road, where I narrowly efcaped falling on a fharp ftone, which rnuft inevitably have fplit and rendered tne ufelefs : but fortunately I roiled on the edge of an opolite path-way, where I was foon after picked up, for the firfi time in my life, by a young lady, who was walking home with her maid from a boarding fchool, at fome little diftaftce. |UMjiJ^LU^n ff rr j|jM|| fin J, ^-.- ' ~ > ,Y. % V v. ■jTl7> .; ■' J /'/' \ %i ... J& K i ' : J Am i 3£=5^p=3=- \\Wfffk^^T^^\\\\\\\\ J t iui While 1 lay in this fituation a reflection na- turally arofe, on the anger which children often exprefs again!! inanimate things : which, by making a wrong uCe of, have proved, as in the prefeiit cafe the means of fubje&ing them to MEMOIRS OF A jpEG-JOP. ( Had George wheri he found me at ivjr. \cerber's, been content o put me into his pocket till his buiinefs finished, he might have played without fear or blame. But by >ing what his confeience told him was impro per, he carelefsly left the cart to the care of old Trot, who finding himfelf free from the re ftraint of a driver, occauoned the mifchief* which Mealwell's care ought to have prevented , But was the poor Peg Top to blame in all this ? Did the P< p make him tell a lie, and forfeit his honour and reputation? W that at ail accountable for his perfeverance an untruth ? or, for the thorn which he pat into his eye? In fhort, i think it will be evi- dent to every reader, that the fault was all his own ; and that the poor Pea Tod could not be juftly charged with any (hare of his guilt. But to return to my new mittrefs, who was a girl about ten years old, and who appeared greatly pleafed with what fhe had found. Taking me up, and fhowing me to the fervant who attended her, faid with much glee, cc See, Iku>\ what I have got! I ihail now have a Top as well as my brothers, who will not'lerid me theirs, becaufe they fay, it is not a girl's play-thing." She then hopped along, firft on one leg, and then on the ether, till we came to a hahdforke ho life, where two genteel ico ing boys were fitting en a chain, which was A 3 65 MEMOIRS OF A PFG-TOP, fafiened to a number of fmall white polls, vvhi Inclofed a round plot of grafs before it. Your fervant, Mifs ! laid the deleft : what are you returned from fchool ? and hew do all w the young ladies do? And what, interrupted the other, have you got into your hand, Sophy ? Whofe Top is that ! I dare fay it is the one I bought laft Tuefday at the fair, and you mult not have it, 1 aiTure you. It is my own, Sir! replied my miftrefs with an air of triumph, and I do not want your's again, I promiic you ! So faying, fhe W&$ walking in doors: but they both in an inflant purfued her, and forced away the top, to ex- II ■ mm ' ^\\-.m i'.' lUii'ii i»r*!>~^_ — — — . — nine whether it was the one they fofpetlza. Juft at this inftant,, a gentlemen, wlxom I MEMOIUS OF A PEG-TOP. 67 afterwards found was their father, came up and taking hold of the ycungeiu, f * Pray, young man," fa id he, " what are you about ? is this behaving properly to your filler f 1 am quite afhamed of you ! What is the matter Sophy ?" The young lady was going to fpeak, but Frederick, the youngeir, without waitii for her anfwer, called out to Mr. Jackfon, She has got one of our tops, Sir, and. we arc going to take it from her, that's all. It is not theirs, I aiTure you, Sir, replied my miftrefs ; J found it juft now in my way from fchool, and indeed it does not belong to them. The gentleman accordingly took me from his fon, and prefenting me again to Mtfs Jackfon, fne ran into the houfe, and alked a fervant who Hie met in the hall, For a piece of cord ; whii fhe foon twirled round mc, and began to make trial of my abilities. 1 loon found (he was ignorant of the art, as file flung me dovvn awkwardly, that I only roiled about, without being at all able to {pin. Her brothers, who were not long before they paid her a vine, were much diverted at her uniuccefsfui attempt, and begged they might be permitted to try whether the fault was in me or their filler; to which ihz con- fented, upon their promife ct reun^uig mc immediately. 68 mi;moirs of a peg-tc Edward, who was the eldeft, l^cnt me for rear a minute; and I fpun fo well, as to flecp more found! y than I had ever done before In flxort, he declared he would give her any thing to poiTefs me., and delivered me to Frederick ■m -.j>--jjhii iii«h» ■ _ ~r— "" ■ '-" II •At "I , I JW fingers much better tha'n thine. Juft as the exchange was agreed upon, Mr. Jackfon entered ; the above verfes laying upon the table, he took them up and read them; after which, addreffing himfelf to his eldeft for), I fee Edward, {aid he, by the hand-writing that this is your compofition^ and perhaps the poetry, when your age is confidered, may not be thought much nmifs. But 1 am very i'orry to fay, the fentiments which they contain are deficient in a very efiential point, and are fo much wanting in good-nature, that whatever credit may be derived to your head, they will certainly do no honour to your heart. A talent for ridicule is a very dangerous ac- cdmpliihmeut, as it is feldom exeited under the influence of {rood humour-: at lea ft the feelings of thote agi iu it whom it is levelled are feldorn confidered ; and he deferves but little of our elleem, who, to prove his wit, would fay, or write any thing which might give uneaiinefs to 3 friend. Jn the irefcnt inftance, though your fatire may be juttly pointed againfl fuch girfs as for- get the delicacy of their (ex, and beh. ve im- TTT TT? ' C TOP properly j yet, to addrefs them to a filler., who is not guilty of" this fault, and who was by no mean:; to blame in keeping what was her own property, is,' as J before faid, no proof of your ^iTc^inn or kindnefs. To exult with a pretended inferiority over the girls, as you are ape with an air of infult to ezprtfs yourfelf, and to fncer at tneiramufe- ments, while you deny them a i'lnre in yours, is a proofof the weaknefs ofyour underftantfing; will never exalt you in the opinion &f men of fenfe. A coxcomb, Edward, is a defpicable cha- racter; and thofe who are rnqft proud of their fancied advantages, will be commonly found to have the kali real merit. Never, therefore*, J 2 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. pretend to boaft of your learning, or defpife women in general or your fitter in particular, under the idea that you are fo much wifer becaufeyouunderftand a little Latin and Greek, fiuce fuch.an affectation of fuperiority is equally deipicable in men or boys. To disregard the Seamed languages is a proof of an illiterate and uninformed mind, which, from not knowing, is unacquainted with their necefiity and ufe; but to imagine that wifdom is centered in the ancients, and that a knowledge of Homer, Virgil, Terence, or any other author you may read, will con- ititute you a refpe<3ab!e character, is a miftake which can only arife from ignorance. The true ufe of learning is to improve the invder landing, and enlarge our ideas ; that is, to ihow the reader in the example of former times, what virtues made a man ufeful to fcciety, and acquired him reputation ; and what vices rendered him hateful to others, and unhappy in himielf If therefore you neglect to make this ufe of your ftudies, you have but tittle reafon to be proud of the advantage of a a good education, hnce learning is to little porpofe, if it will not teach you to govern your temper, and to behave with honour and juftice upon all occaiions. As to the verlcs which occasioned me to fpeak to you upon this ftbje&; they would have be^n MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. 7 2 txidre juitifiable, had the top been taken from yon by Sophia. In which cafe the aliuiion to the dog in the fable would have been more perfeft, and your threat of throwing away her gewgaws, as you call them, have been made with greater juitice. But as the toy, be it ever fo improper for a girl, was yet her own pro- perty, and fhe did not refufe to lend, though fhe wiihed not to part with it entirely, fhe certainly was free from your accufation of being crofs, and deferved not to meet with thatdifdain with, which fhe is treated in the conclufion. I do not wifh to difcourage any attempt which your genius may incline you to make of writing, either in verfe or profe, but I would advife you to let your fubjedl be better chofen, and never to fupport your caufe by ridicule, when you cannot maintain it with reafon and truth. I believe, continued he, I have eot a copy of verfes that your friend Charles Good- win fent to his filler, in anfwer to a letter, in which fhe exprefTed herfelf afraid that her correfpondence might be troublefome, and that he would difdain to take notice of a filler, who could not boaft of equal knowledge with him- felf. The poetical merit of the lines is fmall* but the tendernefs they manifeft, and the grate- ful remembrance of her part attention, which they imply, make them worthy of your imi- tation. MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP, f * 1 .Mi' ;i To Mifs G THE letters, my Harriot, you defign for to fend, ^\ - I perufe, and with pleafure ak*6fid$ D< ed the day to geceive them expect, And till they c each amufement negiecl. Then fay, from what cau'ft are you ever inciin'd, To think that your image is bsn fll'd my mind ? Why ->;ine, that as I in learning improve, ajFt-mati [:ro^ cc the fiftier I love ? Thpfe examples *U v s to my view, ] think, my dear girl, will .be models for you. My Harriot, (with joy to myfeU I exclaim) Mv Harriot will *hjne in the annate of fame$ pe, fi-t 1 fui, irduft.icus, ; .m"S in her manners, with fenfe mo:i refiri^ctj Oi like Sector's fair comfort her virtues (hall ufej r who but mult fcevtle Andromache prh&el Thus, when of pari times I the record's perufe, Whatever be the fuhjea or author I choofe ; If more mafculine virtues with pleafure I trace. And think nought mail the lacred imprtfiion- efface 5 MH.M01RS OF A PEG-TOP. 7 J Each a&ion heroic my bread doth infpire, And emulous kindtes the ardent dtfire, To reach char perfection, that recompenfe fine!, Which Js ever the me us mind. Oft 1 think on the days which in infancy filed, When thy lap, my iov'd tiller, has pillow'd my head $ When foft in thy arms I have funk to repoie, And footh'd by thy cares, have forgo* ton my woes. For doft thou not, Harriot, remember the day, When my favourite, Towfer, was ftolen away 5 How I ran o'er the lawn and the grove to purfue, A dog which had fucdeniy flatted in view ? Hew his footfteps my hopes ftiil dete^min'd to trace, Tho' my feet were fatigu'd, and grew tir'dof the chafe? At length when he turn'd, then my joy was complete, I expedled poor Towfer once more at my feet; But, alas ! ''twas a turnfpit, my Towfer, to thee For thy ilia^gy likenefs, \ wti (hail fee. Then returning in (brtow I told my fad tale, And thou didit with me f r Towfer bewail ; The kinder! companion thy ; did befpeak, Thy foft hand with pity thou ftroak'd o'er my cheek. A thoufead now occur to my mind, Which prove to thy v es thou haft ever be -;ind $ Then think not he "ceafes thy love to refpeil, Or wit) treat thy attrition with churliuh neglect ! He remembers the minutes, and reckons them o'er, Which again to his fitter he arles fh*H reft ore. Then Eton ! thy (hades he will quit with delight, For a time tip eajqy the affectionate iigur, Of thofe friends, who, tho' dift mt, flill d his heart, Who are near his regard tho' in perfon apart. * This performance, continued Mr. Jackfon when he had read to them the above mentioned verfes, 1 do not recommend as a model in any G z MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. refpeft, except in the good-natured intention with which it is manifeilly written: but come, added he, I fee the coach is ready, and your mother is- waiting to accompany us to London. So faying, he went out of the room, and Edward took me up, and putting me into his pocket, ac- companied his father and brother to the carriage. Nothing worth recording occurred till we reached the metropolis, when a cart laden with wine freed oppoiite to a tavern, and hindered our progrefs for fome time ; as on account of a fire which had lately happened, the ruins were inclofed, and the fli eet was too narrow to make room for two carriages abreait. The young gentlemen fhpwed their impatience at this delay , by kneeling upon the feat to look thrc' MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. JJ the front glafs ; then putting their heads out of the fide window; and Edward taking rne out to beguile the time; expreffed his uneafinefs that the coachman would not proceed. At length an affair, which happened on the path- way clofe to the place where they were detained, engroiTed their attention, and furniflied them with a fabjedl of converfation for the remainder of the day. An old woman in a red cloak and tattered gown, was felling oranges, apples, and chefnuts, on a wheel-barrow; fome of which were roaft- ing in a little fire-pot contrived for the purpofe : when two genteel looking boys came up and demanded the price of fome golden pippins. The woman, as fhe was going to anfwer them, cifcovered that her child, who had been fitting by her on a little wooden ftool, had wandered to iome diftance, and was juft going to crofs the flreet by itfelf ; to prevent which, (he ran immediately to overtake it, and in the mean time, one of the mifchievous boys, with a kick overfet her wheel-barrow, and tumbled its contents into the mud. The laugh of exultation which thefe young mifcreants fet up on the occaiion, and the light of the rolling oranges and maflied half-roafted apples fwirnming down the kennel, exceed- ingly diverted my mafter and his brother; till the unfortunate owner at her return, began her G x 5 MEMIORS OF A PEG TOP. pity- moving complaints. A crowd having athered round her, many of them laughed at the accident, and fome ran away with the fpoils, and began peeling the oranges they had picked up. Others blamed the unlucky monkey, (as they called the boy) which had occasioned the miichicf. Matters, however, being once more quiet* Mr. Jackfon called the poor woman, and in - quired her iituation. Why, Sir! faid lhe, I will tell you the truth ! You fee me reduced tq the laft farthing I have in the world : for this morning I laid out four {hillings, which was all the money I w is worth, in thefe oranges, ap- ples, and chef-nuts, and I declare I have taken but threepence to day; and I have three chil- dren, the eivJeft but fix years old, befides this little oncy whom I was going, to run after when that wicked boy kicked down my barrow. It is a hard cafe, Sir! faid {lie, the tears running down her pheeks, which {he wiped off with an old rag of a coloured aprcn ; and I owe for my rent. Sir! and fnail be turned, with all my babes, into the ftreet, as I have now loft the two fhUjings, which I pr fed to carry home to my landlord: and he toid me before I cam'? out, that fhould be the cafe,, as he could not truft me any longer. But it is a {hocking thing to fee my children cry for a mouthful of viftuals 9 and not have it to pave ifheai, and fa 1 bought MEMOIRS OF A PEG TOP. Jty lafl night a quartern loaf, inftead of paying him* which I did intend, but now I have nothing to give him; and we mull go to the parifh, after all my labour to get an honeft livelihood, having endeavoured all my life not to be a burden to any body. Mr. Jackfon, however, made up her lof-\> and the coach once more proceeded on its journey. Frederick declared, he thought the boy was to blame to injure the woman; but added, that he cotild not help laughing to fee the diftance to if which fame of the pippins had rolled, and the fcramble which they occafioned among the mob; that a chimney fweeper had flipt down over an orange, whkh he had kicked away to prevent a girl nom feizing; and, with his bag of foot, had fallen againli a lady in a white jacket, and made 80 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. her as black as hitrt-felf ; and that.the gentleman who was with her had rapped the boy's head with his cane, and fet him a howling like a cur* In fhort, continued he, it vvas rare fun ! and I think had not the woman been fo very poor, it was worth the money to fee the confuilon which it occaftoned. I am forry, replied his father with a ferious air, that the pleafure with which you furveyed that confuilon, has made you forget the fufferings which it might have caufed to the perfon, whofe living depends upon the fuecefs of her little trade. Every one has a right to juftice, be their fituation in life ever fo low : and it is an additional degree of guilt to injure thofe, who ftand mod in need of protection. It cannot, therefore, in my mind, be confidered as any proof of cleverpdfs or wit, to fee a boy throw down a barrow of fruit, cverfet a ftail cf ginger- bread, trip up an old woman's heels, or perform any of thofe feats of dexterity, which are apt to afford mirth to the giddy and inconficlerate ; fince to do a fellow-creature a material injury, for the fake cf fportfhg with their misfortunes, is to be wicked and inhuman ; but it is by no means entitled to commendation and appiaufe. If you had been one of the children who was to be turned cue of doors, or to lofe your day's victuals in confeqoeoce of this witty exploit, I am apt to think you would form a different k. \ MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TO?. 8 J judgment of its merit, and be ready to execrate that wantonnefs of invention, which can fo un- thinkingly fport with the uneafinefs of others. Never, therefore, let the fun or entertainment of fuch jokes make you infenfible to the ferious mifchiefs they may produce; and remember, that what like the fable of the boys and frogs may be play to you, is mifery perhaps to thofe whole property you fo abufe. I recollcdled, added he, an inftance of this kind* when I was at fchool, which produced fuch a difmal event as I fhall never forget. An old woman who lived in a cottage in the neighbourhood, and whofe character was as quiet, and inoffenfive as you can imagine; W3S neverthelefs, fingled out by the boys, as a pro- per fubjedt for their fun. She was very fhort, a little crooked, bent down with age and infir- mities, and was guilty of the (hocking crime, of wearing a high crowned hat; which had, per- haps, been in vogue in the days of her youth. This was fo high an offence, that they gave her the appellation of the Old Witch, and by this name fhe was fligmatized with an epithet of di- rifion, they thought there was no harm in ma- king her life unhappy, by every art which their invention could devife. They broke the only window of her cot, and as foon as it was repaired repeated the offence. A couple of fhe affes which flie kept to fupply MfiMCIRS OF A PEG-TOP. the neighbours wich milk, and which were her chief fbpport,, th.^y drove every day to a d 'fiance, into fuch places as they thought (he would leail SBEP?.^ WW// \ \ ■ ! ; ^ ■ 3 tjeaatafcasBSBas think of fearc > for them ; and thfe, as ihe was bme was a ccr t uneafinefs to her. Several times they nailed up the r of her hur, and when ihe was abfent* wculd pile up all the rubb they co'jld procure, to obilrad her en- trance ; and when fhc ^ade any complaints of thefe infuks to cheir m^ter, they con fide red it as an unpardonable ^provocation, and vowsd their verge for her ill* nature* At length they deternv ; on a fcheme, which they thought would eff illy ft 5n the Old Wstch, arid xr*ake her fears afford them a fubjeft of mirth. This was after ihe went to bad, (which was MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TO? t% illy at an early hour) to make a bonfire * her window: the f'ames of which woui firm lv-r in the apprehenfion, that her dweii- was on fire, as / intended to make < c .:: v to that purpofe. Accordbgiy the poor rurr, who had i herfelf in the day with wafhing, was foon aficep ; and they came with much fatisfa&ion to execute their project. The fuel they had brought was foon in a blaze ; d feveral of thern knocked with violence at r: door, and cried cut that ihe would be burnt o death if fne did not make her efcape. She immediately jumped out of bed, and in her ■* lafte and futprife Humbled over a fmall waihing o, in which (he had left fomeunfinifhed clothes ; by which accident Ihe broke her leg, and was n confequer.ee of it, that though (he linge- red ab a twelvemonth after it, it was thought I to he, in fome degree, the caufe of her death. The deh?n of thefe boys, by no means ex« tended fo far as to do her a real injury: but there is no certainty that a imfchievous intention will flop exa&ly where it w.;s projefted ; and therefore a good-natured difpofition, will rather lofe the enjoyment of a joke, than run the hazard of hurting a feilow-creature. As Mr, Jackfon concluded this fentence, they krived at the end of their journey. They were \ mediately introduced into a handfeme draw- \ rocm 5 where a large party was afferobleds Qn\ r it 84 MEMOIRS OF A PEG-TOP. among which was a boy about the age of m?. Edward, with whom he and his brother 1 quitted the apartment, and retired to the dir ; parlour, where I was produced, with g;i£„i praifesof my merit. But a difficulty now arcfe/l./ as I could not fpin upon the carpet, T!|jj therefore, they agree to turn back, and witi \ considering the holes my peg would make the floor, they began to fpin me by turns, a continued to entertain themfelves, till a foojj man came to lay the cloth for dinner, H blamed the young gentlemen for the liberty the had taken, and faid, his miftrefs would be muclj diipleafed, and infilled upon their finding more proper place for their amufement. Afte debating the matter fome time, they agi ?e t adjourn to the library; where, as foon as arrived, I was laid on a writing-defk, as thei attention was engaged by the pictures of a folio which was open on the table. The pieafure they found in this examination made them forget me ; and when they were fummoned to attend the company, they, in their hafte; left me behind ; and the leifure I then enjoyed, fuggefted the idea of communicating an account of myfelf to the world. Whether the recital will afford any fatisfa&ion to the youthful readers, I muftleay with them to determine. F I N I S. '£ Printed at the OfHce of T WILSON and R. SPENCE, High-Oufcgate, York, 1 \