126 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



there was a thief, he was one and no mistake. He'd 

 rob his own father and mother just as soon as he 

 would any one else. He was a terrible pill to one 

 farmer, as had a farm that was hemmed in all round 

 by the woods. One day he was catched where he'd 

 no business to be, and the farmer sez to him 



" ' What are you after here, Moocher ? ' 



"And he sez 



" ' I'm watchin' my shadder go along in front 

 of me. Ain't it a long un ? And ain't it curous 

 yer shadder should go in front, eh ? And ain't it 

 curous what a lot o' things some people have more 

 than others. 'Tain't possible they can want it all. 

 Now jest you look at my shadder.' 



" ' I expected to find you stealing around,' sez the 

 farmer. 



" * Did ye now ? Ain't I glad I didn't disappoint 

 ye, then.' 



" That just about did it. 



"'Moocher,' he cries, 'ye thievin', sneakin' var- 

 mint, if I had my will I'd hound ye, an' the cowardly, 

 murderin' crew as ye belong to down, with blood- 

 hounds ! ' 



" ' Everybody knows what a kind, tender-hearted 



