her were, and for aught
I know, are still, farmers in the country, not above forty miles from
town: their barbarity to me, in favour of a son, on whom alone they
vouchsafed to bestow their tenderness, had a thousand times determined
me to fly their house, and throw myself on the wide world; but, at
length, an accident forced me on this desperate attempt at the age of
fifteen. I had broken a chinabowl, the pride and idol of both their
hearts; and as an unmerciful beating was the least I had to depend on at
their hands, in the silliness of these tender years, I left the house,
and, at all adventures, took the road to London. How my loss was
resented I do not know, for till this instant I have not heard
a syllable about them. My whole stock was two broad pieces of my
godmother's, a few shillings, silver shoe-buckles and a silver thimble.
Thus equipped, with no more clothes than the ordinary ones I had on my
back, and frightened at every foot or noise I heard behind me, I hurried
on; and I dare sweare, walked a dozen miles before I stopped, through
mere weariness and fatigue. At length I sat down on a style, wept
bitterly, and yet was still rather under increased impressions of fear
on the account of my escape; which made me dread, worse than death, the
going back to my unnatural parents. Refreshed by this little repose, and
relieved by my tears, I was proceeding onward, when I was overtaken by a
sturdy country lad, who was going to London to see what he could do for
himself there, and, like me, had given his friends the slip. He could
not be above seventeen, was ruddy, well featured enough, with uncombed
flaxen hair, a little flapped hat, kersey frock, yarn stockings, in
short, a perfect plough boy. I saw him come whistling behind me, with a
bundle tied to the end of a stick, his travelling equipage. We walked by
one another for some time without speaking; at length we joined company,
and agreed to keep together till we got to our journey's end; what his
designs or ideas were, I know not: the innocence of mine I can solemnly
protest.

"As night drew on, it became us to look out for some inn or shelter; to
which perplexity another was added, and that was, what we should say for
ourselves, if we were questioned. After some puzzle, the young fellow
started a proposal, which I thought the finest that could be; and what
was that? why, that we should pass for husband and wife: I never dreamed
of consequences. We came presently,