fession--I can travel and earn my livelihood.'
I entered into conversation with him, as he stopped at a low
public-house, treating him to a pot of beer; and having gained all I
wanted as to the mysteries of the profession, I called for another pot,
and proposed that I should purchase his whole concern, down to his knife
and apron. The fellow agreed, and after a good deal of bargaining, I
paid him three guineas for the _set out_ or _set up_, which you please.
He asked me whether I meant to hawk in London or not, and I told him no,
that I should travel the country. He advised the western road, as there
were more populous towns in it. Well, we had another pot to clench the
bargain, and I paid down the money and took possession, quite delighted
with my new occupation. Away I went to Brentford, selling a bit here and
there by the way, and at last arrived at the very bench where we had sat
down together and eaten our meal."

"It is strange that I did the same, and a very unlucky bench it proved
to me."

"So it did to me, as you shall hear. I had taken up my quarters at that
inn, and for three days had done very well in Brentford. On the third
evening I had just come back, it was nearly dusk, and I took my seat on
the bench, thinking of you. My dog, rather tired, was lying down before
the cart, when all of a sudden I heard a sharp whistle. The dog sprang
on his legs immediately, and ran off several yards before I could prevent
him. The whistle was repeated, and away went the dog and cart like
lightning. I ran as fast as I could, but could not overtake him; and I
perceived that his old master was running ahead of the dog as hard as he
could, and this was the reason why the dog was off. Still I should, I
think, have overtaken him, but an old woman coming out of a door with a
saucepan to pour the hot water into the gutter, I knocked her down and
tumbled right over her into a cellar without steps. There I was, and
before I could climb out again, man, dog, cart, cat's meat and dog's
meat, had all vanished, and I have never seen them since. The rascal
got clear off, and I was a bankrupt. So much for my first set up in
business."

"You forgot to purchase the _good-will_ when you made your bargain,
Timothy, for the stock in trade."

"Very true, Japhet. However, after receiving a very fair share of abuse
from the old woman, and a plaister of hot greens in my face--for she
went supperless to bed, rather than not have her revenge--I