After this fellow had agreed to accept two shillings for half an hour's sitting for the present work, he had not been seated in the kitchen ten minutes before he began to nestle, and growled a hope that he might not be detained long, adding that he could get twice the money in less time either at Charing Cross or Hyde Park Corner. In order to soften the brute, he had the offer of bread, cheese, and small beer. He said he never took any. At this moment the servant being employed in making a veal pie, he was asked whether he would accept of a steak, and take it to a public-house for his lunch. After slowly turning his head, without giving the least motion of his body, he sneeringly observed, that the veal had no fat.
It was then determined to keep him the full time; and after a few close questions, he observed, that no one dared to keep him in prison; that he worked with tools, and was not a beggar. True it was, indeed, that his hat was on the ground; and if people would put money into it, surely it was not for him to turn it out. As to his chains, few persons would give him his price; they were five shillings a yard; nor did he care much to sell them, for if he did he should have nothing to show. After turning his money over several times, and for which he did not condescend to make the least acknowledgement, he exclaimed on leaving the house, "Now that you have draughted me off, I suppose you'll make a fine deal of money of it."
PLATE XI.
Chain maker, who said he was not a beggar; and if people would put money into his hat, surely it was not for him to turn it out.
The annexed representation is of a fellow whose figure was recently copied in Holborn, and although he was so scandalously intoxicated in the middle of the day that it was with the greatest difficulty he could stand, yet many people followed to give him money, because the inscription on his hat declared him to be "Out of Employment." Such are the effects of imposture, and the mischief of ill-directed benevolence. As a contrast to the two preceding characters, see the next plate, which affords the portraits of two truly industrious persons, Joseph Thake and his son. These people are natives of Watford, in Hertfordshire, who finding it impossible to procure work, and being determined not to beg, employed themselves in making puzzles. The boy learned the art when under a shepherd in Cambridgeshire. These specimens of ingenuity are made of pieces of willow, which contain small stones, serving for children's rattles, or as an amusement for grown persons who, unacquainted with the key, after taking them to pieces are puzzled to put them together again. When honest Thake and his son had filled a sack, they trudged to the great City, where they took their station in St Paul's Churchyard, vending their toys at the moderate price of sixpence a piece.
Their rustic simplicity quickly procured them customers; among whom the author's friend, Mr Henry Pocknell, after purchasing a few specimens of their handy-work, procured for him the pleasure of imitating his example.
The worthy parent transferred the money to his son, who requested that he might have the satisfaction of presenting his benefactor with a bird.