when questioned by his master--"Where have you been
miching now, you young rascal?"--"NOWHERE sir!" This NOWHERE (so very
indefinite) the master construed into _anywhere_ in the streets, playing
at marbles, top, or chuck-farthing; but of the true place he had not the
most distant conception. After some time they began to apprehend that
their retreat would be discovered either by accident or the vigilance of
the old folks, and this had the effect of increasing their caution and
sharpening their ingenuity and cunning. They affected to loiter and play
in distant streets, and courted detection there, in order to elude any
suspicions that might lead to a discovery of their playhouse; and as
they never ventured to indulge their ambition by figuring away before
any but their own little society, and were the only auditors, as well as
the actors of their pieces, they calculated upon being able to carry on
their scheme till time should set them free from parental control;
provided there should be no treachery among themselves. However, their
confidence in one another was great. "Of one only," said Hodgkinson, to
this writer, "we entertained the least doubt, and you will smile to hear
the cause of it: it was, because he was the son of an attorney--he was
bottom however to the last, and is now as worthy a man as any in
society."

Most of what is here related came to the knowledge of the writer in
desultory conversations with Hodgkinson, and two other persons now in
America. "I have very often," said John, "reflected on the success of
our stratagems, and could not help inferring from it a truth which moral
philosophers have long since laid down; that little cunning is most
perfect in weakest minds. I am persuaded that our company could not,
when grown up to manhood, have acted with half the minute ingenuity
which we displayed on that occasion." "I had one day, continued he, put
on my best clothes for the purpose of rehearsing LIONEL. I panted for a
suit of black for it, but could not obtain one; so I was fain to put up
with one of blue. It was almost new to be sure, but was daubed over with
brass buttons, and therefore rather unfit for the clerical Lionel. That,
however, I dared not alter. Returning home when our play was over,
I descried my master coming towards me, and, convinced that he saw me,
I turned into a corner, as if to hide myself, knelt down in order to
cover the knees of my small clothes with dust, pulled out my bag of