266 KANGE OF APPRENTICESHIP. 



il/' This reply brought harsher words, which so terrified me 

 that I thought the safer plan was flight while whole, and 1 gained, 

 as may be conjectured, the stair-head as soon as possible, and 

 that too minus 



" a longing, lingering look behind." 



Entering the office I was asked by Esau the cause of all the 

 row in the lane. "Perhaps," I replied "you can better tell. 

 It is enough for me to assure you that the baker threatens to 

 knock off my head. — I believe him in earnest — he looks his 

 intention — so, to save my head, I have brought it thus far in 

 a hurry. But Esau," 1 continued, "as I have not been on 

 the premises for tlie last hour, 1 think it any thing but fair that 

 the innocent should suffer for the guilty ; and I also think, that 

 if a man has courage enough to commence a rig, it should not 

 forsake him in its consequences." " W hat do you mean, sir,'' 

 frowned Esau. " Do not sir me, Esau," I replied, "you have 

 heard my words, and I mean their full import — go to the 

 offended man, who is at the bottom of the stairs, and tell him I 

 have not tail-piped his cat — and if you like, you, probably can 

 say who did." 



Esau, who by the bye was an arch rogue, had the best of all 

 roguish qualities — that of keeping the most unchanged coun- 

 tenance on any charge, however sudden or serious " What," 

 exclaimed Esau, "the baker threaten to knock off your head ? 

 — where is he?" then rushing to the street, he came into close 

 contact with his opponent. It was enough for me to be a spec- 

 tator of the fray, so, popping my head out of the office window, I 

 could distinctly hear and observe all that was said or done. 

 Esau challenged the man of meal — dared him to hurt his young 

 fellow-apprentice, as he termed me, and showing a menacing 

 attitude, followed the baker to his door. The man was cooly and 

 laughed : but, otherwise his wife. She came forth as if vomited 

 red-hot from the oven's mouth. " Will you dare follow my 

 husband, you scoundrel, will you dare tail-pipe my cat I I can 

 leave all my meat, I can, fellow, upon the hutches, and my cat 

 will never touch a bit — and yet she must be tail-piped by you ! " 

 These words were uttered so quickly, and with so much emphasis, 

 that the poor woman was obliged to resort to her hands for a 

 forcible finale ; and, sousing a huge mop into a pail of dirty 

 water, drenched so unexpectedly and completely the threatening 

 Esau, that he was glad to avoid the enraged Amazon, and seek 

 my altitude. 



Shortly after this affair, Mr. Crumplehorn entered the lane, 

 and closely following his steps came one I dreaded more, not 

 that I had any occasion to complain of, or fear either, for both 

 were kind and good ; but my concern rested upon a doubt — 

 whether they would inquire the matter, and think with the baker 

 that I had occasioned it. 



