t to return to myself. As I said a short time ago my person carried no
other covering than a pair of trousers, and these were almost worse than
nothing in their present condition. If my friend Isaac had been about,
his second-hand clothes shop (for no "monish") would have come as a boon
and a blessing. I didn't ken him, however. But a cloth weaver
thoughtfully came up to me and put it to the crowd, "Nah, weear can
t'poor beggar goa in a staate like this?" "Aye, aye," says my friend the
policeman; "An' if ye hev a heart in yer belly, ye'll get him some
clothes, for I'm sure he's spokken t'truth ta me." Upon this "fetching"
speech, several persons in the crowd were observed to leave by the "back
way." In a very short time they returned, each bringing some part of a
man's wearing apparel. Together, they brought the different items I was
_minus_. There were waistcoats and to spare. For this display of kindness
to a fellow in distress, I thanked them heartily. Having attired myself,
I walked away with the policeman, who proved a true friend to me. He
thoughtfully mentioned that if I stayed in the place there was a
probability I should be arrested on a charge of "sleeping out." So I took
the hint so kindly offered me, and after bidding my friend "Robert" a
cordial good-bye, I made my exit from Clayton West.

ON THE WAY TO BARNSLEY

I was only about eight miles from Barnsley, and I decided to make for
that town, cutting across the fields. I passed the house, I remember,
where the father of Bosco, (best known as "Curley Joe"), the famous
conjuror, was born. I walked into Barnsley about eight o'clock the same
morning. After weighing the matter over in my mind, I sought out and made
for the wooden theatre in connection with which I had accepted an
engagement at Halifax the week previous.

A FRESH RIG-OUT

I saw the old lady, but she would not believe at first that I was the
actor she had engaged. I related my wanderings and troubles, but with a'
that it occupied some time to convince her that I was _the_ man. When she
did come round a bit, she taunted me that I had sold my clothes for
drink. However, we came to terms, and I was "put on." By-and-bye, she
sent me to a second-hand clothes shop, where I rigged myself out in a
sort of la-di-dah style, my habiliments comprising a pair of white linen
trousers, a double-breasted frock coat, with military peak cap, and a few
other little accessories, so that I was a perfect