l since,"
replied Tim. "But to go on. I walked off to the nearest town, and I
commenced in a more humble way. I purchased a basket, and then, with
the remainder of my money, I bought the commonest crockery ware, such as
basins, jugs, mugs, and putting them on my head, off I went again upon
my new speculation. I wandered about with my crockery, but it was hard
work. I could not reap the profits which I did as a hawker and pedlar.
I averaged, however, from seven to nine shillings a week, and that was
about sufficient for my support. I went down into as many kitchens as
would have sufficed to have found a dozen mothers, supposing mine to be
a cook; but I did not see anyone who was at all like me. Sometimes a
cook replaced a basin she had broken, by giving me as much meat as had
cost her mistress five shillings, and thus avoided a scolding, for an
article which was worth only two-pence. At other times, a cottager
would give me a lodging, and would consider himself rewarded with a mug
that only cost me one penny. I was more than three months employed
carrying crockery in every direction, and never, during the whole time,
broke one article, until one day, as I passed through Eton, there was a
regular smash of the whole concern."

"Indeed, how was that?"

"I met about a dozen of the Eton boys, and they proposed a cockshy, as
they called it; that is, I was to place my articles on the top of a
post, and they were to throw stones at them at a certain distance,
paying me a certain sum for each throw. Well, this I thought a very
good bargain, so I put up a mug (worth one penny) at one penny a throw.
It was knocked down at the second shot, so it was just as well to put
the full price upon them at once, they were such remarkable good aimers
at anything. Each boy had a stick, upon which I notched off their
throws, and how much they would have to pay when all was over. One
article after another was put on the post until my basket was empty, and
then I wanted to settle with them, but as soon as I talked about that,
they all burst out into a loud laugh, and took to their heels. I chased
them, but one might as well have chased eels. If I got hold of one, the
others pulled me behind until he escaped, and at last they were all off,
and I had nothing left."

"Not your basket?"

"No, not even that; for while I was busy after some that ran one way,
the others kicked my basket before them like a foot-ball, until it was
fairly