A _Wicked Man_ and the _Devil_.
A Notorious _Malefactor_ that had Committed I know not how many
Villanies, and run through the Discipline of as many Goals, made a Friend
of the _Devil_, to help him out in all his Distresses. This Friend of
his, brought him off many and many a time, and still as he was Taken up,
again and again, he had his Recourse, over and over, to the same _Devil_
for succour. But upon his Last Summons, the _Devil_ came to him with a
Great Bag of Old Shoes at his Back, and told him Plainly. Friend (says
he) I’m at the End of my Line, and can Help ye No longer. I have beat the
Hoof till I have Worn out all These Shoes in Your Service, and not One
Penny left me to Buy more: So that you must e’en Excuse Me if I drop ye
here.
The MORAL.
The Devil helps his Servants, _for a Season; but when they come once to a
Pinch, he leaves ’em in the Lurch_.