was now what is termed
a regular _Mud-larker_, picking up halfpence by running into the water,
offering my ragged arm to people getting out of the wherries, always
saluting them with, "You haven't got never a half penny for poor Jack,
your honour?" and sometimes I did get a halfpenny, sometimes a shove,
according to the temper of those whom I addressed. When I was not on
the beach, I was usually in company with Ben the Whaler, who, after my
father's visit, was more kind to me than ever; and there were several
other pensioners who were great friends of mine; and I used to listen to
their long yarns, which were now becoming a source of great delight to
me; at other times I would be with the watermen, assisting them to clean
out their wherries, or pay the seams. In fact, I was here, there, and
everywhere except at home--always active, always employed, and, I may
add, almost always wet. My mother used to scold whenever I came in; but
that I did not mind: her greatest punishment was refusing me a clean
shirt on a Sunday. At last I picked up halfpence enough to pay, not
only for my food, such as it was, but for my own washing, and every day
I became more independent and more happy.

There were other ways by which money was to be obtained during the
summer season, which were from the company who used to come down to the
whitebait parties at the Ship and other taverns. There were many other
boys who frequented the beach besides me, and we used to stand under the
windows, and attract attention by every means in our power, so as to
induce the company to throw us halfpence to scramble for. This they
would do to while away their time until their dinner was ready, or to
amuse themselves and the ladies by seeing us roll and tumble one over
the other. Sometimes they would throw a sixpence into the river, where
the water was about two feet deep, to make us wet ourselves through in
groping for it. Indeed, they were very generous when they wished to be
amused; and every kind of offer was made to them which we thought suited
to their tastes, or likely to extract money from their pockets.

"Dip my head in the mud for sixpence, sir!" would one of us cry out; and
then he would be outbid by another.

"Roll myself all over and over in the mud, face and all, sir--only give
me sixpence!"

Sometimes I would perceive a lovely countenance, beaming with pity and
compassion at our rags and apparent wretchedness, and then the money
thrown