DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70303#0048
31 JEMMY TAYLOR ; THE SOUTHWARK MISER.
delectable to these old hunks, who, from the sequel, de-
voured it with keen appetites. But the next time Jemmy
Taylor met them upon the ’Change, he accused them of
theft and robbery, in stealing his candles. But of this
they cleared themselves, by solemnly declaring, they had
only committed them to the pot, at the bottom of which he
would find the wicks, if his hunger had not swallowed
them. Old Mapps, the itinerant quill and pen merchant,
of Stepney Green, shared also in the friendship of these
saving wights, who were not a little edified with each
other’s experience and refinements in the art of living
cheap. Jemmy Taylor always appeared in the streets
with a long stick and clouted shoes, and innumerable darns
and patches in his clothes. He never went to market for
more than a twopenny steak at a time, and this he generally
chose for its savoriness ; an outside piece, grown black by
the wind, and mostly fly-blown, was his choice ; for he
thriftily observed, “ that meat was nothing, unless it smelt
as well as tasted.” The people at the Black Horse, in the
Borough, used often to represent to him his folly in being
so parsimonious and self-denying ; and as he was fast
growing old, observed to him the propriety of indulging
himself a little in comfortable things : but to all idea of ex-
pence, Jemmy Taylor was deaf: his reply used always to
be-, “ that if his successors had as much pleasure in spend-
ing his property, as he had in hoarding it up, they need
not complain of their lot in the world.” By this obser-
vation, verifying the old adage, that says, “ there is a plea-
sure in madness, which none but madmen know.” If parity
of years is the first step to friendship, parity of pursuits
may be said to be the second. Mr. James Taylor knew
all the miserables of the metropolis ; among the most con-
spicuous of whom, he ranked his quondam friends, the two
brothers F-1’s, of Spitalfields. These were likewise
weavers ; and in their time had accumulated, by usury and
speculation,
delectable to these old hunks, who, from the sequel, de-
voured it with keen appetites. But the next time Jemmy
Taylor met them upon the ’Change, he accused them of
theft and robbery, in stealing his candles. But of this
they cleared themselves, by solemnly declaring, they had
only committed them to the pot, at the bottom of which he
would find the wicks, if his hunger had not swallowed
them. Old Mapps, the itinerant quill and pen merchant,
of Stepney Green, shared also in the friendship of these
saving wights, who were not a little edified with each
other’s experience and refinements in the art of living
cheap. Jemmy Taylor always appeared in the streets
with a long stick and clouted shoes, and innumerable darns
and patches in his clothes. He never went to market for
more than a twopenny steak at a time, and this he generally
chose for its savoriness ; an outside piece, grown black by
the wind, and mostly fly-blown, was his choice ; for he
thriftily observed, “ that meat was nothing, unless it smelt
as well as tasted.” The people at the Black Horse, in the
Borough, used often to represent to him his folly in being
so parsimonious and self-denying ; and as he was fast
growing old, observed to him the propriety of indulging
himself a little in comfortable things : but to all idea of ex-
pence, Jemmy Taylor was deaf: his reply used always to
be-, “ that if his successors had as much pleasure in spend-
ing his property, as he had in hoarding it up, they need
not complain of their lot in the world.” By this obser-
vation, verifying the old adage, that says, “ there is a plea-
sure in madness, which none but madmen know.” If parity
of years is the first step to friendship, parity of pursuits
may be said to be the second. Mr. James Taylor knew
all the miserables of the metropolis ; among the most con-
spicuous of whom, he ranked his quondam friends, the two
brothers F-1’s, of Spitalfields. These were likewise
weavers ; and in their time had accumulated, by usury and
speculation,