RANGE OF APPRENTICESHIP. 267 



Fortunately, the time of wliich I speak, was a time o( piping- 

 hot war, and in a heterogenious and densely populated vicinity, 

 a row was, at least, a daily occurrence ; so things went off to rcy 

 wish, if not to my expectation. But there was yet one trifle that 

 troubled me. I came over for my shoes, being accustomed to 

 follow my work in slippers. This cat-tailing affair had therefore 

 been the source of delay, and to prevent a further, I looked about 

 in a hurried manner for them. After a tiresome search I could 

 find but one, and asking Esau if he had seen the other, I was 

 answered by a sharp "no!" For this harsh reply I could 

 easily account. The best of men are but sorry in placidity when 

 tormented, let the torment arise as it may : but when a torment 

 approaches to mortification, a snap is civility. " They were 

 here,'' I meekly remarked, "not long since.'' "Some old shoes 

 were, I know," said Esau, "with one of which, I tail-piped the 

 hussy's cat." "What, Esau?" I inquired, "with one of my 

 best shoes?" " Best shoes," repeated Esau, " if such dirty shoes 

 be your best, the sooner you are rid of them the better." This 

 I considered but poor satisfaction,! was not big enough to reply, 

 so my lack of physical means was made up by philosophy. I 

 even smiled at my loss ; for now I thought the baker must know, 

 that I did not punish his cat, as I should never have selected a 

 new shoe for the purpose : and yet to ask him for this shoe was 

 out of the question. 



So much time had been lost, that I fancied it preferable to 

 meet my call with slippers and a run, than with one shoe and 

 a hop ; but, ere putting my resolve into effect, I had to pass a 

 connecting passage, having windows on each side, with folding 

 shutters. The eastern window was in general kept open. The 

 western never. This had iron bars — that had not, and neither 

 was glazed. From the former we looked upon a roof of a base- 

 ment passage, at the extremity of which was a framed railing to 

 heighten an adjoining garden wall, and, fortunately, at the foot 

 of this railing, I espied my shoe. Proceeding to the spot, I 

 picked it up, found a piece of the cord fastened to it, and, to my 

 regret, discovered, that an inch-wide cut had been made with a 

 penknife through the heel. Damaged as was my shoe, I reco- 

 vered it with thankfulness, as little short of a miracle, for the 

 bars of the frame were distant enough for any two cats, and how 

 my shoe, which was so much less, escaped pussy company, I 

 was at a loss to account, unless by supposing that the velocity of 

 the cat had curled it round a rail, and thus made it optional that 

 one or both should halt mid-way. 



In the moment of painful reflection on the sufl^erings of poor 

 pussy — the shock it must have given her tail — the tightness with 

 which Esau must have bound the cord on — the size of the cord, 

 &c. — I could not refrain from telling Esau that I had recovered 

 my shoe, but damaged. " Well for you and the undencriters,"' 

 said Esau, " in future keep your best shoes clean, so that, should 



