I have but half told my story; but I will endeavour to make short
work of it, though indeed it deserves to be noticed, for it will
teach one a great deal, and convince one how little the world's
riches are to be depended on.

'I have said, you know, that Mr. Speedgo was a merchant, and a
very rich one too. It is unknown what vast sums of money he used
to spend! when, would you think it, either through spending it too
fast, or some losses he met with in trade, he broke all to
nothing, and had not a farthing to pay his creditors. I forgot
how many thousand pounds it was he owed; but it was a vast great
many. Well! this you may be sure was a great mortification to
them; they begged for mercy from their creditors; but as in their
prosperity they had never shown much mercy themselves to those
they thought beneath them, so now they met with very little from
others: the poor saying they deserved it for their pride; the
rich condemning them for their presumption, in trying to vie with
those of superior birth; and those who had been less successful in
business, blaming them for their extravagance, which, they said,
had justly brought on them their misfortunes.

'In this distress, in vain it was they applied for assistance to
those they had esteemed their friends; for as they never had been
careful to form their connections with people of real merit, only
seeking to be acquainted with those who were rich and prosperous,
so now they could no longer return their civilities, they found
none were ready to show them any, but everyone seemed anxious to
keep from them as much as possible. Thus distressed, and finding
no one willing to help them, the young squire, Master James, was
obliged to go to sea: while Miss Betsy and Miss Rachael were even