YOUTH ANJ) EARLY WRITINGS 71 



thing of the same kind of reason — in one word, I have 

 no other resource but you, and if you do not or cannot 

 help I must turn navvy or starve. The fact is, I have 

 had to learn the same bitter lesson that you have learnt, 

 only upon a smaller scale — namely, that good nature is 

 another name for foolery. I gave away so much that I 

 left myself insufficient to live upon while my plans were 

 growing up to bear fruit, and the consequence was I have 

 had to abandon them at the very moment when a little 

 more time would have given me success and made me 

 independent. 



' All is not lost, but while the grass grows the steed 

 starves. What I have to ask is — will you allow me to 

 live a little time with you, until I can work myself up 

 again ? May I come to your house and remain with you 

 until I shall be able to get a position again ? I do not 

 ask you to give this to me, but to lend it, for I have little 

 doubt but that in time I shall be able to repay you every 

 farthing of the cost, which I will do to the very utter- 

 most. I am to all intents and purposes penniless. The 

 only securities I can give you for repayment are these : 



1 have a small silver watch which cost £4, a small Albert 

 gold chain which cost £3, and a massive gold chain which 

 cost 8 guineas, a diamond scarf-pin which cost 10 

 guineas, a double-barrelled gun which cost £7 (I have 

 the warranty), and a gig which I don't know the value 

 of. Besides these, I have about 200 books, all standard 

 and expensive works. They cost me full £60, and are 

 in good condition. These are all my effects : besides, I 

 am young and strong, and I should not object to bear a 

 hand upon the farm when required ; in fact, I should like 

 to. I know something about it, having often done so for 

 amusement at home. In actual coin I have only £1 left, 

 and one or two franc-pieces. I forget, I have a small collec- 

 tion of coins in my cabinet at home, among them a gold 

 7s. 6d. piece, which you can have too. There are also 



2 model steam-engines, a locomotive and a stationary. 

 The locomotive cost £3 or £4. 



