Mytruenameissowellknownintherecordsorregisters
　　atNewgate，andintheOldBailey，andtherearesomethings
　　ofsuchconsequencestilldependingthere，relatingtomy
　　particularconduct，thatitisnotbeexpectedIshouldsetmy
　　nameortheaccountofmyfamilytothiswork；perhaps，after
　　mydeath，itmaybebetterknown；atpresentitwouldnotbe
　　proper，nonotthoughageneralpardonshouldbeissued，even
　　withoutexceptionsandreserveofpersonsorcrimes。
　　Itisenoughtotellyou，thatassomeofmyworstcomrades，
　　whoareoutofthewayofdoingmeharmhavinggoneoutof
　　theworldbythestepsandthestring，asIoftenexpectedtogo，
　　knewmebythenameofMollFlanders，soyoumaygiveme
　　leavetospeakofmyselfunderthatnametillIdareownwho
　　Ihavebeen，aswellaswhoIam。
　　Ihavebeentoldthatinoneofneighbournations，whetherit
　　beinFranceorwhereelseIknownot，theyhaveanorderfrom
　　theking，thatwhenanycriminaliscondemned，eithertodie，
　　ortothegalleys，ortobetransported，iftheyleaveanychildren，
　　assucharegenerallyunprovidedfor，bythepovertyorforfeiture
　　oftheirparents，sotheyareimmediatelytakenintothecareof
　　theGovernment，andputintoahospitalcalledtheHouseof
　　Orphans，wheretheyarebredup，clothed，fed，taught，and
　　whenfittogoout，areplacedouttotradesortoservices，so
　　astobewellabletoprovideforthemselvesbyanhonest，
　　industriousbehaviour。
　　Hadthisbeenthecustominourcountry，Ihadnotbeenleft
　　apoordesolategirlwithoutfriends，withoutclothes，without
　　helporhelperintheworld，aswasmyfate；andbywhichI
　　wasnotonlyexposedtoverygreatdistresses，evenbeforeI
　　wascapableeitherofunderstandingmycaseorhowtoamend
　　it，butbroughtintoacourseoflifewhichwasnotonlyscandalous
　　initself，butwhichinitsordinarycoursetendedtotheswift
　　destructionbothofsoulandbody。
　　Butthecasewasotherwisehere。
　　Mymotherwasconvicted
　　offelonyforacertainpettytheftscarceworthnaming，viz。
　　havinganopportunityofborrowingthreepiecesoffineholland
　　ofacertaindraperinCheapside。
　　Thecircumstancesaretoo
　　longtorepeat，andIhaveheardthemrelatedsomanyways，
　　thatIcanscarcebecertainwhichistherightaccount。
　　Howeveritwas，thistheyallagreein，thatmymotherpleaded
　　herbelly，andbeingfoundquickwithchild，shewasrespited
　　foraboutsevenmonths；inwhichtimehavingbroughtmeinto
　　theworld，andbeingaboutagain，shewascalleddown，asthey
　　termit，toherformerjudgment，butobtainedthefavourof
　　beingtransportedtotheplantations，andleftmeabouthalfa
　　yearold；andinbadhands，youmaybesure。
　　Thisistoonearthefirsthoursofmylifeformetorelate
　　anythingofmyselfbutbyhearsay；itisenoughtomention，
　　thatasIwasborninsuchanunhappyplace，Ihadnoparish
　　tohaverecoursetoformynourishmentinmyinfancy；nor
　　canIgivetheleastaccounthowIwaskeptalive，otherthan
　　that，asIhavebeentold，somerelationofmymother’stook
　　meawayforawhileasanurse，butatwhoseexpense，orby
　　whosedirection，Iknownothingatallofit。
　　ThefirstaccountthatIcanrecollect，orcouldeverlearnof
　　myself，wasthatIhadwanderedamongacrewofthosepeople
　　theycallgypsies，orEgyptians；butIbelieveitwasbutavery
　　littlewhilethatIhadbeenamongthem，forIhadnothadmy
　　skindiscolouredorblackened，astheydoveryyoungtoallthe
　　childrentheycarryaboutwiththem；norcanItellhowIcame
　　amongthem，orhowIgotfromthem。
　　ItwasatColchester，inEssex，thatthosepeopleleftme；and
　　IhaveanotioninmyheadthatIleftthemtherethatis，that
　　Ihidmyselfandwouldnotgoanyfartherwiththem，butIam
　　notabletobeparticularinthataccount；onlythisIremember，
　　thatbeingtakenupbysomeoftheparishofficersofColchester，
　　IgaveanaccountthatIcameintothetownwiththegypsies，
　　butthatIwouldnotgoanyfartherwiththem，andthatsothey
　　hadleftme，butwhithertheyweregonethatIknewnot，nor
　　couldtheyexpectitofme；forthoughtheysendroundthe
　　countrytoinquireafterthem，itseemstheycouldnotbefound。
　　Iwasnowinawaytobeprovidedfor；forthoughIwasnota
　　parishchargeuponthisorthatpartofthetownbylaw，yetas
　　mycasecametobeknown，andthatIwastooyoungtodoany
　　work，beingnotabovethreeyearsold，compassionmovedthe
　　magistratesofthetowntoordersomecaretobetakenofme，
　　andIbecameoneoftheirownasmuchasifIhadbeenborn
　　intheplace。
　　Intheprovisiontheymadeforme，itwasmygoodhaptobe
　　puttonurse，astheycallit，toawomanwhowasindeedpoor
　　buthadbeeninbettercircumstances，andwhogotalittle
　　livelihoodbytakingsuchasIwassupposedtobe，andkeeping
　　themwithallnecessaries，tilltheywereatacertainage，in
　　whichitmightbesupposedtheymightgotoserviceorget
　　theirownbread。
　　Thiswomanhadalsohadalittleschool，whichshekeptto
　　teachchildrentoreadandtowork；andhaving，asIhavesaid，
　　livedbeforethatingoodfashion，shebredupthechildrenshe
　　tookwithagreatdealofart，aswellaswithagreatdealofcare。
　　Butthatwhichwasworthalltherest，shebredthemupvery
　　religiously，beingherselfaverysober，piouswoman，veryhouse-
　　wifelyandclean，andverymannerly，andwithgoodbehaviour。
　　Sothatinaword，expectingaplaindiet，coarselodging，and
　　meanclothes，wewerebroughtupasmannerlyandasgenteelly
　　asifwehadbeenatthedancing-school。
　　IwascontinuedheretillIwaseightyearsold，whenIwas
　　terrifiedwithnewsthatthemagistratesasIthinktheycalled
　　themhadorderedthatIshouldgotoservice。
　　Iwasableto
　　dobutverylittleservicewhereverIwastogo，exceptitwas
　　torunoferrandsandbeadrudgetosomecookmaid，andthis
　　theytoldmeofoften，whichputmeintoagreatfright；forI
　　hadathoroughaversiontogoingtoservice，astheycalledit
　　thatis，tobeaservant，thoughIwassoyoung；andItoldmy
　　nurse，aswecalledher，thatIbelievedIcouldgetmyliving
　　withoutgoingtoservice，ifshepleasedtoletme；forshehad
　　taughtmetoworkwithmyneedle，andspinworsted，which
　　isthechieftradeofthatcity，andItoldherthatifshewould
　　keepme，Iwouldworkforher，andIwouldworkveryhard。
　　Italkedtoheralmosteverydayofworkinghard；and，inshort，
　　Ididnothingbutworkandcryallday，whichgrievedthegood，
　　kindwomansomuch，thatatlastshebegantobeconcerned
　　forme，forshelovedmeverywell。
　　Onedayafterthis，asshecameintotheroomwhereallwe
　　poorchildrenwereatwork，shesatdownjustoveragainstme，
　　notinherusualplaceasmistress，butasifshesetherselfon
　　purposetoobservemeandseemework。
　　Iwasdoingsomething
　　shehadsetmeto；asIremember，itwasmarkingsomeshirts
　　whichshehadtakentomake，andafterawhileshebeganto
　　talktome。
　　’Thoufoolishchild，’saysshe，’thouartalways
　　cryingforIwascryingthen；’prithee，whatdostcryfor？’
　　’Becausetheywilltakemeaway，’saysI，’andputmetoservice，
　　andIcan’tworkhousework。’
　　’Well，child，’saysshe，’but
　　thoughyoucan’tworkhousework，asyoucallit，youwilllearn
　　itintime，andtheywon’tputyoutohardthingsatfirst。’
　　’Yes，
　　theywill，’saysI，’andifIcan’tdoittheywillbeatme，andthe
　　maidswillbeatmetomakemedogreatwork，andIambuta
　　littlegirlandIcan’tdoit’；andthenIcriedagain，tillIcould
　　notspeakanymoretoher。
　　Thismovedmygoodmotherlynurse，sothatshefromthat
　　timeresolvedIshouldnotgotoserviceyet；soshebidmenot
　　cry，andshewouldspeaktoMr。Mayor，andIshouldnotgoto
　　servicetillIwasbigger。
　　Well，thisdidnotsatisfyme，fortothinkofgoingtoservice
　　wassuchafrightfulthingtome，thatifshehadassuredmeI
　　shouldnothavegonetillIwastwentyyearsold，itwouldhave
　　beenthesametome；Ishouldhavecried，Ibelieve，allthe
　　time，withtheveryapprehensionofitsbeingtobesoatlast。
　　WhenshesawthatIwasnotpacifiedyet，shebegantobe
　　angrywithme。
　　’Andwhatwouldyouhave？’saysshe；’don’t
　　Itellyouthatyoushallnotgotoservicetillyourarebigger？’
　　’Ay，’saidI，’butthenImustgoatlast。’
　　’Why，what？’saidshe；
　　’isthegirlmad？
　　Whatwouldyoube——agentlewoman？’
　　’Yes，’saysI，andcriedheartilytillIroardoutagain。
　　Thissettheoldgentlewomana-laughingatme，asyoumaybe
　　sureitwould。
　　’Well，madam，forsooth，’saysshe，gibingatme，
　　’youwouldbeagentlewoman；andprayhowwillyoucometo
　　beagentlewoman？
　　What！willyoudoitbyyourfingers’end？’
　　’Yes，’saysIagain，veryinnocently。
　　’Why，whatcanyouearn？’saysshe；’whatcanyougetatyour
　　work？’
　　’Threepence，’saidI，’whenIspin，andfourpencewhenIwork
　　plainwork。’
　　’Alas！poorgentlewoman，’saidsheagain，laughing，’whatwill
　　thatdoforthee？’
　　’Itwillkeepme，’saysI，’ifyouwillletmelivewithyou。’
　　And
　　thisIsaidinsuchapoorpetitioningtone，thatitmadethepoor
　　woman’sheartyearntome，asshetoldmeafterwards。
　　’But，’saysshe，’thatwillnotkeepyouandbuyyouclothes
　　too；andwhomustbuythelittlegentlewomanclothes？’says
　　she，andsmiledallthewhileatme。
　　’Iwillworkharder，then，’saysI，’andyoushallhaveitall。’
　　’Poorchild！itwon’tkeepyou，’saysshe；’itwillhardlykeep
　　youinvictuals。’
　　’ThenIwillhavenovictuals，’saysI，againveryinnocently；
　　’letmebutlivewithyou。’
　　’Why，canyoulivewithoutvictuals？’saysshe。
　　’Yes，’againsaysI，verymuchlikeachild，youmaybesure，
　　andstillIcriedheartily。
　　Ihadnopolicyinallthis；youmayeasilyseeitwasallnature；
　　butitwasjoinedwithsomuchinnocenceandsomuchpassion
　　that，inshort，itsetthegoodmotherlycreaturea-weepingtoo，
　　andshecriedatlastasfastasIdid，andthentookmeandled
　　meoutoftheteaching-room。
　　’Come，’saysshe，’youshan’t
　　gotoservice；youshalllivewithme’；andthispacifiedme
　　forthepresent。
　　Sometimeafterthis，shegoingtowaitontheMayor，and
　　talkingofsuchthingsasbelongedtoherbusiness，atlastmy
　　storycameup，andmygoodnursetoldMr。Mayorthewhole
　　tale。