had little to plead in my own favour, much to
condemn--that I had passed a life of fraud and deceit. I also could not
forget that when I had returned to honesty, I had been scouted by the
world. "And here I am," thought I, "once more with the world before me;
and it is just that I should commence again, for I started in a wrong
path. At least, now I can satisfactorily assert that I am deceiving
nobody, and can deservedly receive no contumely. I am Japhet Newland,
and not in disguise." I felt happy with this reflection, and made a
determination, whatever my future lot might be, that, at least, I would
pursue the path of honesty. I then began to reflect upon another point,
which was, whither I should bend my steps, and what I should do to gain
my livelihood.

Alas! that was a subject of no little difficulty to me. A person who has
been brought up to a profession naturally reverts to that profession--but
to what had I been brought up? As an apothecary--true; but I well knew
the difficulty of obtaining employment in what is termed a liberal
profession, without interest or recommendation; neither did I wish for
close confinement, as the very idea was irksome. As a mountebank, a
juggler, a quack doctor--I spurned the very idea. It was a system of
fraud and deceit. What then could I do? I could not dig, to beg I was
ashamed. I must trust to the chapter of accidents, and considering how
helpless I was, such trust was but a broken reed. At all events, I had a
sufficient sum of money, upwards of twenty pounds, to exist upon with
economy for some time. I was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hilloa!
my lad, come and hold this horse a moment." I looked up and perceived a
person on horseback looking at me. "Do you hear, or are you stupid?"
cried the man. My first feeling was to knock him down for his
impertinence, but my bundle lying beside, reminded me of my situation
and appearance, and I rose and walked towards the horse. The gentleman,
for such he was in appearance, dismounted, and throwing the rein on the
horse's neck, told me to stand by him for half a minute. He went into a
respectable-looking house opposite the inn, and remained nearly half an
hour, during which I was becoming very impatient, and kept an anxious eye
upon my bundle, which lay on the seat. At last he came out, and mounting
his horse looked in my face with some degree of surprise. "Why, what are
you?" said he, as he pulled out a sixpence, and tendered it to m