erefore, for what
the French call les pieces justificatives of my theories, as well as of
my facts, I see no better way to prepare the reader to believe me, than
by giving an unvarnished the result of the orange-woman's application;
for had my worthy ancestor been subjected to the happy accidents and
generous caprices of voluntary charity, it is more than probable I
should be driven to throw a veil over those important years of his
life that were notoriously passed in the work-house, but which, in
consequence of that occurrence, are now easily authenticated by valid
minutes and documentary evidence. Thus it is that there exists no
void in the annals of our family, even that period which is usually
remembered through gossiping and idle tales in the lives of most men,
being matter of legal record in that of my progenitor, and so continued
to be down to the day of his presumed majority, since he was indebted to
a careful master the moment the parish could with any legality, putting
decency quite out of the question, get rid of him. I ought to have said,
that the orange-woman, taking a hint from the sign of a butcher opposite
to whose door my ancestor was found, had very cleverly given him the
name of Thomas Goldencalf.

This second important transition in the affairs of my father, might be
deemed a presage of his future fortunes. He was bound apprentice to a
trader in fancy articles, or a shopkeeper who dealt in such objects
as are usually purchased by those who do not well know what to do
with their money. This trade was of immense advantage to the future
prosperity of the young adventurer; for, in addition to the known fact
that they who amuse are much better paid than they who instruct their
fellow-creatures, his situation enabled him to study those caprices of
men, which, properly improved, are of themselves a mine of wealth, as
well as to gain a knowledge of the important truth that the greatest
events of this life are much oftener the result of impulse than of
calculation.

I have it by a direct tradition, orally conveyed from the lips of my
ancestor, that no one could be more lucky than himself in the character
of his master. This personage, who came, in time, to be my maternal
grandfather, was one of those wary traders who encourage others in their
follies, with a view to his own advantage, and the experience of fifty
years had rendered him so expert in the practices of his calling, that
it was seldom he struck o