Ch. II] BOYHOOD. 7 



into a cake shop one day, and bought some cakes for which he 

 did not pay, as tho shopman trusted him. When we came out 

 I asked him why he did not pay for them, and he instantly 

 answered, " Why, do you not know that my uncle left a great 

 sum of money to the town on condition that every tradesman 

 should give whatever was wanted without payment to any one 

 who wore his old hat and moved [it] in a particular manner ? " 

 and he then showed me how it was moved. He then went into 

 another shop where he was trusted, and asked for some small 

 article, moving his hat in the proper manner, and of course 

 obtained it without payment. When we came out he said, 

 " Now if you liko to go by yourself into that cake-shop (how 

 well I remember its exact position), I will lend you my hat, and 

 you can get whatever you like if you move the hat on your 

 head properly." I gladly accepted the generous offer, ar.d 

 went in and asked for some cakes, moved the old hat, and was 

 walking out of the shop, when the shopman made a rush at 

 me, so I dropped tho cakes and ran for dear life, and was 

 astonished by being greeted with shouts of laughter by my 

 false friend Garnett. 



I can say in my own favour that I was as a boy humane, but 

 I owed this entirely to the instruction and example of my 

 sisters. I doubt indeed whether humanity is a natural or innate 

 quality. I was very fond of collecting eggs, but I never took 

 more than a single egg out of a bird's nest, except on one 

 single occasion, when I took all, not for their value, but from a 

 sort of bravado. 



I had a strong taste for angling, and would sit for any 

 number of hours on the bank of a river or pond watching 

 the float ; when at Maer* I was told that I could kill the 

 worms with salt and water, and from that day I never spitted 

 a living worm, though at the expense probably of some loss of 

 success. 



Once as a very little boy whilst at the di.y school, or before 

 that time, I acted cruelly, for I beat a puppy, I believe, simply 

 from enjoying the sense of power ; but the beating could not 

 have been severe, for the puppy did not howl, of which I feel 

 sure as the spot was near the house. This act lay heavily on 

 my conscience, as is shown by my remembering the exact spot 

 where the crime was committed. It probably lay all the 

 heavier from my love of dogs being then, and for a long time 

 afterwards, a passion. Dogs seemed to know this, for I was 

 an adept in robbing their love from their masters. 



* The house of his uncle, Josiah Wedgwood, the younger. 



