22 TEE MODEL MERCHANT 



were paved at all, at that early period. Even in Mr. Pepys' day, 

 more than two centuries afterwards, carriages had great difficulty 

 in moving through the streets, and could not do so without danger 

 to the vehicle, which was of much ruder and stronger build than those 

 of our day. Still the figure had a very significant meaning, namely, 

 that the path to riches was through the streets of the metropolis, as 

 doubtless our friend eventually found out, even though sorely dis- 

 appointed at first. That London is now paved with gold may also be 

 said in more senses than one, when we calculate the expense per mile, 

 or yard, of the paving, pitching, or macadamizing, and the cost 

 of the beautiful ^EilBt pavement, with its fossil shells and madri- 

 pores, which ornament the foot- way over London Bridge; when 

 we reckon also the enormous amount of traffic which passes over any 

 great thoroughfare of the metropolis in one day, to say nothing of the 

 thousands of cart loads of manure, in the way of scavenging, which are 

 daily taken from the streets, and sold for large sums, and go to fertilize 

 the market gardens in the neighbourhood, and to reproduce food for 

 man and beast. 



Most young people have a fancy, like our friend Eichard, to see 

 something of the world, and have, like him, to purchase their 

 experience through many a bitter struggle and many a severe disap- 

 pointment. The lesson, however, is not the less valuable when it 

 causes the lad to retrace his steps "a sadder yet a wiser youth." 

 The path to riches is a very slippery one, especially when the ascent 

 is rapid, and the slide downwards is not generally veiy pleasant. 



AVhether Eichard really found his resources so utterly fail him on 

 his arrival in London that he was obliged to undertake a menial 

 situation, we do not know, except from the story book, though it is 

 not improbable, because every junior position in a house of trade iu 

 those days was, to a certain degree, what we should now call menial. 

 "Wliittington's journey from Pauntley to London must have occupied 

 him fully four days. When roads first became fit for wheels, it took 

 a week or ten days, for a coach to go from York to London, and the 

 travellers generally made their wills before they set out on so perilous 

 an expedition. The inns' were such that travellers often bought 

 their own meat, and got it cooked at the inn, and as to accommodation 

 q Fynea Morrison. 



