This was a vagrant of sixty-five, who was going to prison for playing the flute; or, in other words, for begging in the streets, and doing noting for his livelihood. In the next cell, was another man, who was going to the same prison for hawking tin saucepans without a licence; thereby doing something for his living, in defiance of the Stamp-office.

Summary

This quote highlights the unfairness of the justice system, where a man playing the flute is sent to prison for begging, while another man selling tin saucepans without a license is also headed to jail. The discrepancy lies in the fact that the first man has resorted to begging out of desperation, while the second man is actually working to support himself. It sheds light on the inequities within society and questions the logic behind punishing individuals for merely trying to survive.

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