192 
THE RAT. 
would as soon admit a colony of rats themselves to my 
house as one of these gentry ; though I have been much 
amused by learning some of the slight tricks of trade from 
one of these representatives of roguery and unblushing 
effrontery." 
This is indeed too sweeping and far too severe against a 
body of men whom the world at large so much injure by 
denying them a fair name, fair occupation, or even fair pay 
for their most valuable services, when most skilfully and 
most honourably executed. It brings to our minds the 
ancient philosopher, Diogenes, who, in broad daylight, walked 
through the streets of Athens with a lighted candle. Both 
friends and foes felt perfectly bewildered, as he gazed vacantly 
in their faces, and then passed silently on. The astonished 
multitude consulted together as to what could be the cause 
of this strange phenomenon, and resolved upon questioning 
him as to what he was seeking ; and his reply was, " An 
honest man." So it would appear that honest men were 
very scarce even in those early days. But as to the present 
time, if our author had a candle that would reach from 
here to the moon, and made a candlestick of the London 
Monument, it is a matter of great doubt whether it would 
not burn out in the socket ere he could fill his hat with 
anything better than lawyers and Yorkshire horsedealers, 
whose honour and honesty, of course, no one can doubt. I 
am afi-aid it too often happens, when we cannot get our 
ends out of a man, that we stamp him with dishonour ; and 
as far as my little experience w411 carr}' me, I have found 
Christians of nearly every denomination infuse too much of 
the Jewish maxim into their daily practices, which says^ 
Get money, honestly if you can, but get money." 
I am satisfied that the genuine rat-catcher is a man who 
has never been duly appreciated ; consequently his interests 
have never been duly respected, especially by those who, 
from the nature of his calling, ought to esteem him as their 
best friend and protector — I mean farmers. Thus has 
he often been driven to acts which, under more honourable 
treatment and a just consideration of his rights, lie would 
spurn to do. 
It is certain that every man ought to be able to live by his ; 
legitimate occupation ; but if men deprive him of his just 
