pparatus for me to carry on my "professional duties," and that
unknowingly. My mother was a heald knitter, and there was always plenty
of band throwing about. One night's "tolling" I remember with particular
liveliness. I thought what a "champ" thing it would be to have a "lark"
with "Jim o' Old Jack's"--an eccentric old man who lived by himself in an
old thatched dwelling in our locality. I had no sooner turned the thought
over in my mind than I resolved to "have a go" at the old chap. Poor old
Jim went out to his work during the day-time, returning home at night. So
I took advantage of his absence by hammering a stout nail into the
cross-piece over the doorway. When night approached, and Jim returned to
his homestead--poor old fellow! it makes me long to ask his forgiveness
as I recount this incident--I hooked a fairish-sized stone, by means of a
piece of string, to the nail which I had placed over the doorway. Near
the stone I next fastened a longer length of string, and then I ensconced
myself on the opposite side of the road. It so happened that the house
stood on one side of a narrow lane, the opposite side of which was on a
much higher level than the roof of the house, and, besides, faced by a
wall. This suited me to a T. All serene! Having allowed Jim nice time to
get comfortably sat down to his evening meal, I gently pulled the string,
with the result that there was a gentle tapping at the door. Jim
naturally answered my knock, and he seemed rather put about to find that
his ears had evidently deceived him. So he slammed the door to and went
inside--I guessed to resume his seat at the tea table. Then I "tolled"
again and once more Jim came out. He must have felt a little "nasty" when
he found that no one wanted him at the door.

THE INNOCENT SUFFER FOR THE GUILTY

However, he again closed the door. Before I had time to pull the string
again, I actually heard a knock myself at the door. I could also see that
a person was standing outside. Now Jim must have determined to drop on
somebody, and stationed himself behind the door, for as soon as he heard
the knock which _I_ also heard, he hurriedly opened the door, bounced
into the open, and commenced to belabour mercilessly, with a stout
cudgel, of which he had possessed himself, the "wretch 'at dared to knock
at 'is door like that." I sincerely congratulated myself that it wasn't
my tender carcase that Jim o' Jack's was playing with. The visitor hadn't
had ti