which I need not explain to you now, that I took to this business. I
would have made any sacrifice in reason for that boy of mine. I wanted
him to be a gentleman, and to make his way in one of the learned
professions. After a great deal of chopping and changing, he fixed upon
the Bar, took chambers in the Temple, made me pay all the fees, and
pretended to study. But I soon found that he was leading a wild
dissipated life, and was never likely to be good for anything. He got
into debt, drew bills upon me, and behaved altogether in a most shameful
manner. When I sent for him, and remonstrated with him upon his
disgraceful conduct, he told me that I was a miser, that I spent my life
in a dog-kennel for the sake of hoarding money, and that I deserved
nothing better than his treatment of me. I may have been better off at
this time than I had cared to let him know, for I had soon found out what
a reckless scoundrel I had to deal with; but if he had behaved decently,
he would have found me generous and indulgent enough. As it was, I told
him to go about his business, and never to expect another sixpence from
me as long as he lived. How he managed to exist after this, I hardly
know. He was very much mixed up with a disreputable lot of turf-men, and
I believe he made money by betting. His mother robbed me for him, I found
out afterwards, and contrived to send him a good deal of money at odd
times. My business as a dealer in second-hand silver was better then than
it is now, and I had had so much money passing through my hands that it
was pretty easy for my wife to cheat me. Poor soul! she has been dead and
gone these fifteen years, and I have freely forgiven her. She loved that
young man to distraction. If he had wanted a step to reach the object of
his wishes, she would have laid herself down in the dust and let him walk
over her body. I suppose it is in the nature of mothers to love their
sons like that. Well, sir, I never saw my gentleman after that day. I had
plenty of letters from him, all asking for money; threatening letters,
pitiful letters, letters in which he swore he would destroy himself if he