e。 Have I not had the pleasure of once seeing you at Welbridge fair； and is not your name Ephraim Jenkinson？' At this demand he only sighed。 'I suppose you must recollect；' resumed I； 'one Doctor Primrose； from whom you bought a horse。'
He now at once recollected me； for the gloominess of the place and the approaching night had prevented his distinguishing my features before。'Yes； Sir；' returned Mr Jenkinson； 'I remember you perfectly well； I bought an horse； but forgot to pay for him。 Your neighbour Flamborough is the only prosecutor I am any way afraid of at the next assizes： for he intends to swear positively against me as a coiner。 I am heartily sorry； Sir； I ever deceived you； or indeed any man； for you see；' continued he； shewing his shackles； 'what my tricks have brought me to。'
'Well； sir；' replied I； 'your kindness in offering me assistance； when you could expect no return； shall be repaid with my endeavours to soften or totally suppress Mr Flamborough's evidence； and I will send my son to him for that purpose the first opportunity； nor do I in the least doubt but he will comply with my request； and as to my evidence； you need be under no uneasiness about that。'
'Well； sit；' cried he； 'all the return I can make shall be yours。 You shall have more than half my bed…cloaths to night； and I'll take care to stand your friend in the prison； where I think I have some influence。'
I thanked him； and could not avoid being surprised at the present youthful change in his aspect； for at the time I had seen him before he appeared at least sixty。'Sir；' answered he； you are little acquainted with the world； I had at that time false hair； and have learnt the art of counterfeiting every age from seventeen to seventy。 Ah sir； had I but bestowed half the pains in learning a trade； that I have in learning to be a scoundrel； I might have been a rich man at this day。 But rogue as I am； still I may be your friend； and that perhaps when you least expect it。'
We were now prevented from further conversation； by the arrival of the gaoler's servants； who came to call over the prisoners names； and lock up for the night。 A fellow also； with a bundle of straw for my bed attended； who led me along a dark narrow passage into a room paved like the common prison； and in one corner of this I spread my bed； and the cloaths given me by my fellow prisoner； which done； my conductor； who was civil enough； bade me a good… night。 After my usual meditations； and having praised my heavenly corrector； I laid myself down and slept with the utmost tranquility till morning。
CHAPTER 26
A reformation in the gaol。 To make laws complete； they should reward as well as punish
The next morning early I was awakened by my family； whom I found in tears at my bed…side。 The gloomy strength of every thing about us； it seems； had daunted them。 I gently rebuked their sorrow； assuring them I had never slept with greater tranquility； and next enquired after my eldest daughter； who was not among them。 They informed me that yesterday's uneasiness and fatigue had encreased her fever； and it was judged proper to leave her behind。 My next care was to send my son to procure a room or two to lodge the family in； as near the prison as conveniently could be found。 He obeyed； but could only find one apartment； which was hired at a small expence； for his mother and sisters； the gaoler with humanity consenting to let him and his two little brothers lie in the prison with me。 A bed was therefore prepared for them in a corner of the room； which I thought answered very conveniently。 I was willing however previously to know whether my little children chose to lie in a place which seemed to fright them upon entrance。
'Well；' cried I； 'my good boys； how do you like your bed？ I hope you are not afraid to lie in this room； dark as it appears。'
'No； papa；' says Dick； 'I am not afraid to lie any where where you are。'
'And I；' says Bill； who was yet but four years old； 'love every place best that my papa is in。'
After this； I allotted to each of the family what they were to do。 My daughter was particularly directed to watch her declining sister's health； my wife was to attend me； my little boys were to read to me： 'And as for you； my son；' continued I； 'it is by the labour of your hands we must all hope to be supported。 Your wages； as a day…labourer； will be full sufficient； with proper frugality； to maintain us all； and comfortably too。 Thou art now sixteen years old； and hast strength； and it was given thee； my son； for very useful purposes； for it must save from famine your helpless parents and family。 Prepare then this evening to look out for work against to…morrow； and bring home every night what money you earn； for our support。'
Having thus instructed him； and settled the rest； I walked down to the common prison； where I could enjoy more air and room。 But I was not long there when the execrations； lewdness； and brutality that invaded me on every side； drove me back to my apartment again。 Here I sate for some time； pondering upon the strange infatuation of wretches； who finding all mankind in open arms against them； were labouring to make themselves a future and a tremendous enemy。
Their insensibility excited my highest compassion； and blotted my own uneasiness from my mind。 It even appeared a duty incumbent upon me to attempt to reclaim them。 I resolved therefore once more to return； and in spite of their contempt to give them my advice； and conquer them by perseverance。 Going therefore among them again； I informed Mr Jenkinson of my design； at which he laughed heartily； but communicated it to the rest。 The proposal was received with the greatest good…humour； as it promised to afford a new fund of entertainment to persons who had now no other resource for mirth； but what could be derived from ridicule or debauchery。
I therefore read them a portion of the service with a loud unaffected voice； and found my audience perfectly merry upon the occasion。 Lewd whispers； groans of contrition burlesqued； winking and coughing； alternately excited laughter。 However； I continued with my natural solemnity to read on； sensible that what I did might amend some； but could itself receive no contamination from any。
After reading； I entered upon my exhortation； which was rather calculated at first to amuse them than to reprove。 I previously observed； that no other motive but their welfare could induce me to this； that I was their fellow prisoner； and now got nothing by preaching。 I was sorry； I said； to hear them so very prophane； because they got nothing by it； but might lose a great deal： 'For be assured； my friends；' cried I； 'for you are my friends； however the world may disclaim your friendship； though you swore twelve thousand oaths in a day； it would not put one penny in your purse。 Then what signifies calling every moment upon the devil； and courting his friendship； since you find how scurvily he uses you。 He has given you nothing here； you find； but a mouthful of oaths and an empty belly； and by the best accounts I have of him； he will give you nothing that's good hereafter。
'If used ill in our dealings with one man； we naturally go elsewhere。 Were it not worth your while then； just to try how you may like the usage of another master； who gives you fair promises at least to come to him。 Surely； my Friends； of all stupidity in the world； his must be greatest； who； after robbing an house； runs to the thieftakers for protection。 And yet how are you more wise？ You are all seeking comfort from one that has already betrayed you； applying to a more malicious being than any thieftaker of them all； for they only decoy； and then hang you； but he decoys and hangs； and what is worst of all； will not let you loose after the hangman has done。'
When I had concluded； I received the compliments of my audience； some of whom came and shook me by the hand； swearing that I was a very honest fellow； and that they desired my further acquaintance。 I therefore promised to repeat my lecture next day； and actually conceived some hopes of making a reformation here； for it had ever been my opinion； that no man was past the hour of amendment； every heart lying open to the shafts of reproof； if the archer could but take a proper aim。 When I had thus satisfied my mind； I went back to my apartment； where my wife had prepared a frugal meal； while Mr Jenkinson begged leave to add his dinner to ours； and partake of the pleasure； as he was kind enough to express it of my conversation。 He had not yet seen my family； for as they came to my apartment by a door in the narrow passage； already described； by this means they avoided the common prison。 Jenkinson at the first interview therefore seemed not a little struck with the beauty of my youngest daughter； which her pensive air contributed to heighten； and my little ones did not pass unnoticed。
'Alas； Doctor；' cried he； 'these children are too handsome and too good for such a place as this！'
Why； Mr Jenkinson'； replied I； 'thank heaven my children are pretty tolerable in morals； and if they be good； it matters little for the rest。'
'I fancy； sir；' returned my fellow prisoner； 'that it must give you great comfort to have this little family about you。'
'A comfort； Mr Jenkinson；' replied I； 'yes it is indeed a comfort； and I would not be without them for all the world； for they can make a dungeon seem a palace。 There is but one way in this life of wounding my happiness； and that is by injuring them。'
'I am afraid then； sir；' cried he； 'that I am in some measure culpable； for I think I see here （looking at my son Moses） one that I have injured； and by whom I wish to be forgiven。'
My son immediately recollected his voice and features； though he had before seen him in disguise； and taking him by the hand； with a smile forgave him。 'Yet；' continued he； 'I can't help wondering at what you could see in my face； to think me a proper mark for deception。'
'My dear sir；' returned the other； 'it was not your face； but your white stockings and the black ribband in your hair； that allured me。 But no disparagement to your parts； I have deceived wiser men than you in my time； and yet； with all my tricks； the blockheads have been too many for me at last。'