Introduction. 



Respect your parents, respect even their 

 prejudices ; gently point out to your father 

 that you are ambitious and wish for a career 

 in which you can distinguish yourself. 

 Above all, respect your mother, and show 

 your respect by not taking ferrets or dead 

 rats in your pockets into her drawing-room, 

 and by washing your hands a little between 

 fondling them and cuddling her. But to 

 finish this sermon, let me point out that 

 though in this great profession you will be 

 everlastingly mixed up with dogs of all sorts, 

 always make them come \.o you, and never go 

 to them. 



One last word. If in the following pages 

 you come across a bit of grammar or spelling 

 calculated to make a Head Master sit up, 

 excuse it, and remember that I have been a 

 rat-catcher all my life, and as a class we are 

 not quite Ai at book learning. 





