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CHAPTER XVIII. 
WHISTLING JOE^ THE HERTFORDSHIRE SERMULOT-HUNTER 
AND RAT-CATCHER. 
Some few years ago one of the best customers of a well- 
known tavern at Hertford, was a celebrated sermulot- 
hunter, known by the familiar title of Whistling J oe 
and though in my boyish days I knew this burly, happy, 
healthy-looking hero well, from his being in the habit of 
calling at the school-house in his professional capacity, still 
I could never ascertain his surname ; but it never gave me 
much trouble, since every one seemed perfectly satisfied to 
call and recognize him by the appropriate cognomen of 
" Whistling J oe the Eatcatcher." 
A few months since, as I was walking from Ware to Hert- 
ford for the purpose of ascertaining something with regard 
to this well-known character, I met an old countryman and 
three young ones ; when, for the purpose of drawing them 
into conversation, I asked my way to Hertford. " Go 
straight ahead," said the old man, " an' you'll run your nose 
bang agin it !" After such a polished piece of informa- 
tion, I inquired if ever he knew a man by the name of 
"Whistling J oe." This question had the effect of transforming 
him at once into a civilized being. " Oh yes, sir," said he, " I 
know'd him ; he wa' a terrible chap ! Do you know, sir, 
when I wa' a young man he gi'd me just what I wanted ? " — 
" Indeed, and what was that, pray*?" "Why, he gi'd me 
the soundest hiding I ever had, and broke two o' my ribs 
for insulting his dog. Still, what wa' better nor that, he 
never let me want, but looked to me every day till I was able 
to go to work again." — " But how did you insult his dog V 
" Why you see, sir, I thought I was as good a man as he ; 
so I kicked his dog." — " And for that he broke your ribs?" 
" Just so, sir ; but, lor', talk o' fighting, why there wasn't a 
man round about as dared look at him in that way ; he wa' 
the terror of the whole county. At the same time, sir, he 
wa' as gentle and kind-hearted as a gal. And as for dogs^ 
