56 SHOEMAKERS PETS. CHAP. in. 



sent out by his mistress to search the public-houses 

 frequented by Begg ; but when found, he was usually 

 intoxicated. The customers would not return, and 

 the business consequently fell off. When drunk, 

 Begg raved and swore ; and after beating the boy in 

 the shop, he would go up-stairs and beat his wife. 



Shoemakers are usually very fond of pets, and 

 especially of pet birds. Many of the craft have 

 singing-birds about them, and some are known to be 

 highly-skilled and excellent bird-fanciers. But Begg 

 had no notion of pets of any kind. He had no love 

 whatever for the works of nature, and detested those 

 who had. Edward had been born with the love of 

 birds and living creatures, and Begg hated him ac- 

 cordingly. Begg used to rifle his pockets on entering 

 the shop, to see that Edward had nothing of the kind 

 about him. If he found anything he threw it into 

 the street, his little boxes with butterflies, eggs, 

 and such like. Many a blow did he give Edward on 

 such occasions. He used to say that he would 

 " stamp the fool out of him ; " but he tried in vain. 



One afternoon, when Edward had finished his work, 

 and was waiting for the return of his master in order to 

 go to dinner, he was sitting with a sparrow on his knee. 

 It was a young sparrow which he had trained and 

 taught to do a number of little tricks. It was his pet, 

 and he loved it dearly. While he was putting the 

 sparrow through its movements, the master entered. 

 He was three parts drunk. On looking at the bird 



