I mentioned this circumstance to my mother, in presence of one of her neighbours; and without announcing my design, I immediately returned home, for the purpose of rectifying the error. Upon my unexpected appearance before Mr. Little, with information of his mistake, he smiled, and said, that he never kept his gold and silver together. "It was my design," said he, "to give you gold, but I advise you not to throw it away." I pursued my journey, and passed my time agreeably; but whether I threw away the bounty of my benefactor, I do not, at this period, recollect, I only know that I brought not a shilling home with me: In fact, I was never sufficiently sensible of the value of money, to retain it in my possession. I was received, on my return from this visit, with uncommon pleasure; and some time after, my kind patron, taking me into his private apartment, thus addressed me: "I need not, my dear, inform you, that you have many enemies, and I regret to say, that those enemies are among my nearest relatives; but, continuing in the paths of rectitude, you will be beyond the reach of their most malignant calumnies. Soon after you left home the other day, the clergyman, who has recently become the husband of my niece, called upon me, requesting a private audience; and when retired into this room, he observed, that he conceived himself in duty bound to apprize me, that I was not sufficiently acquainted with the character of the person I had adopted; that he was not honest; that he had obtained money from me, to which he had no right. "You gave him, sir, as you believed, some pieces of silver, but upon examination they proved to be guineas; this fact I can prove; and if he could thus act, what may he not do?" I told this officious gentleman, that I had really intended to give you gold; but that you, conceiving I had made a mistake, forbore to appropriate the money, and speedily returned home, for the purpose of making the communication. Our clergyman departed, and you will easily conceive, not a little humbled. I mention this circumstance to you, my son, to put you upon your guard. It is my wish, that, in future, you should not be so communicative." This little anecdote was exultingly repeated to me by the good lady, and her daughters, who never failed triumphantly to report every little occurrence, which they believed would contribute, either to my pleasure, or my reputation.
My establishment in this family rendered me an object of envy, even among some of my religious connexions. Objections were raised against my supposed erroneous sentiments; I was more than suspected
