I Did not succeed ill in my business; the humbled air, which grief gave me, I believe softened the rigid virtue of my neighbours; and as I sold rather cheaper than most people in the same way of trade, in order to incite them to deal with me, I seemed well established in about two months after I had furnished my little shop.

But great was my surprize, when one morning two men entered my house, who immediately arrested me, and seized my goods.

I was more amazed at this insolence, than frighted; for I was sure I had incurred no debts, and therefore told them they must have mistaken the house and person. Of which I had no doubt; but greatly was I shocked, when they informed me, that they were employed by my landlord, who had never received any rent from the time Mr. Markland took the house, nor payment for the furniture, with which, being an upholsterer and cabinet-maker, he had furnished him; and that he could easily prove that whatever I had belonged to Mr. Markland.

All the horrors of a prison now presented themselves to my imagination: I easily perceived my stock could not discharge this debt; and with little ceremony was told by these men, that nothing else could save me from a gaol, and that I must go with them. What now to do with my child I knew not: To expose it to the colds and damps of so nauseous a place, shocked my nature: As for myself, had no other depended on me, I should have been less anxious: I had resigned myself to misery, and which way it was brought upon me seemed of little consequence.