<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2>
<p>After three weeks passed in London, a year followed, during
which William and Henry never sat down to a dinner, or went into
a bed, without hearts glowing with thankfulness to that
Providence who had bestowed on them such unexpected blessings;
for they no longer presumed to expect (what still they hoped they
deserved) a secure pittance in this world of plenty. Their
experience, since they came to town, had informed them that to
obtain a permanent livelihood is the good fortune but of a part
of those who are in want of it: and the precarious earning of
half-a-crown, or a shilling, in the neighbourhood where they
lodged, by an errand, or some such accidental means, was the sole
support which they at present enjoyed.</p>
<p>They had sought for constant employment of various kinds, and
even for servants’ places; but obstacles had always
occurred to prevent their success. If they applied for the
situation of a clerk to a man of extensive concerns, their
qualifications were admitted; but there must be security given
for their fidelity;—they had friends, who would give them a
character, but who would give them nothing else.</p>
<p>If they applied for the place even of a menial servant, they
were too clownish and awkward for the presence of the lady of the
house;—and once, when William (who had been educated at the
free grammar-school of the town in which he was born, and was an
excellent scholar), hoping to obtain the good opinion of a young
clergyman whom he solicited for the favour of waiting upon him,
said submissively, “that he understood Greek and
Latin,” he was rejected by the divine, “because he
could not dress hair.”</p>
<p>Weary of repeating their mean accomplishments of
“honesty, sobriety, humility,” and on the precipice
of reprobating such qualities,—which, however beneficial to
the soul, gave no hope of preservation to the body,—they
were prevented from this profanation by the fortunate remembrance
of one qualification, which Henry, the possessor, in all his
distress, had never till then called to his recollection; but
which, as soon as remembered and made known, changed the whole
prospect of wretchedness placed before the two brothers; and they
never knew want more.</p>
<p>Reader—Henry could play upon the fiddle.</p>
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