my Thoughts on this Subject any way so well, as by a short account of my own Life to this the Forty fifth Year of my Age; that is to say, from my being first a Foot-boy at Fourteen, to my present Station of a Nobleman’s Porter in the Year of my Age above-mentioned.  Know then, that my Father was a poor Tenant to the Family of Sir Stephen Rackrent: Sir Stephen put me to School, or rather made me follow his Son Harry to School, from my Ninth Year; and there, tho’ Sir Stephen paid something for my Learning, I was used like a Servant, and was forced to get what Scraps of Learning I could by my own Industry, for the Schoolmaster took very little Notice of me.  My young Master was a Lad of very sprightly Parts; and my being constantly about him, and loving him, was no small Advantage to me.  My Master loved me extreamly, and has often been whipped for not keeping me at a Distance.  He used always to say, That when he came to his Estate I should have a Lease of my Father’s Tenement for nothing.  I came up to Town with him to Westminster School; at which time he taught me at Night all he learnt; and put me to find out Words in the Dictionary when he was about his Exercise.  It was the Will of Providence that Master Harry was taken very ill of a Fever, of which he died within Ten Days after his first falling sick.  Here was the first Sorrow I ever knew; and I assure you, Mr. SPECTATOR, I remember the beautiful Action of the sweet Youth in his Fever, as fresh as if it were Yesterday.  If he wanted any thing, it must be given him by Tom: When I let any thing fall through the Grief I was under, he would cry, Do not beat the poor Boy:  Give him some more Julep for me, no Body else shall give it me.  He would strive to hide his being so bad, when he saw I could not bear his being in so much Danger, and comforted me, saying, Tom, Tom, have a good Heart.  When I was holding a Cup at his Mouth, he fell into Convulsions; and at this very Time I hear my dear Master’s last Groan.  I was quickly turned out of the Room, and left to sob and beat my Head against the Wall at my Leisure.  The Grief I was in was inexpressible; and every Body thought it would have cost me my Life.  In a few Days my old Lady, who was one of the Housewives of the World, thought of turning me out of Doors, because I put her in mind of her Son.  Sir Stephen proposed putting me to Prentice; but my Lady being an excellent Manager, would not let her Husband throw away his Money in Acts of Charity.  I had sense enough to be under the utmost Indignation, to see her discard with so little Concern, one her Son had loved so much; and went out of the House to ramble wherever my Feet would carry me.

The third Day after I left Sir Stephen’s Family, I was strolling up and down the Walks in the Temple.  A young Gentleman of the House, who (as I heard him say afterwards) seeing me half-starved and well-dressed, thought me an Equipage ready to