The New Magdalen

"My small savings would have been soon exhausted, even if I had been old

enough and strong enough to protect them myself. As things were, my few

shillings were taken from me by gypsies. I had no reason to complain.

They gave me food and the shelter of their tents, and they made me

of use to them in various ways. After a while hard times came to the

gypsies, as they had come to the strolling players. Some of them were

imprisoned; the rest were dispersed. It was the season for hop-gathering

at the time. I got employment among the hop-pickers next; and that done,

I went to London with my new friends.

"I have no wish to weary and pain you by dwelling on this part of my

childhood in detail. It will be enough if I tell you that I sank lower

and lower until I ended in selling matches in the street. My mother's

legacy got me many a sixpence which my matches would never have charmed

out of the pockets of strangers if I had been an ugly child. My face.

which was destined to be my greatest misfortune in after-years, was my

best friend in those days.

"Is there anything, Mr. Holmcroft, in the life I am now trying to

describe which reminds you of a day when we were out walking together

not long since?

"I surprised and offended you, I remember; and it was not possible

for me to explain my conduct at the time. Do you recollect the little

wandering girl, with the miserable faded nosegay in her hand, who ran

after us, and begged for a half-penny? I shocked you by bursting out

crying when the child asked us to buy her a bit of bread. Now you know

why I was so sorry for her. Now you know why I offended you the next day

by breaking an engagement with your mother and sisters, and going to see

that child in her wretched home. After what I have confessed, you will

admit that my poor little sister in adversity had the first claim on me.

"Let me go on. I am sorry if I have distressed you. Let me go on.

"The forlorn wanderers of the streets have (as I found it) one way

always open to them of presenting their sufferings to the notice of

their rich and charitable fellow-creatures. They have only to break the

law--and they make a public appearance in a court of justice. If the

circumstances connected with their offense are of an interesting kind,

they gain a second advantage: they are advertised all over England by a

report in the newspapers.

"Yes! even _I_ have my knowledge of the law. I know that it completely

overlooked me as long as I respected it. But on two different occasions

it became my best friend when I set it at defiance! My first fortunate

offense was committed when I was just twelve years old.