2
- In which I begin my life of crime
How
many days I was passed out I do not know. A fever had come over me
and all I remember are brief flashes of conciousness. The first thing
I remember is the room I lay in. Very bare it was save for a
clothes-line with many pocket handkerchiefs hanging down. The most
beautiful handkerchiefs I have seen. A table in the middle of the
room held many pocketbooks, watches, pieces of cloth and silk purses.
At the table sat a man and women. I recognized the man as the fellow
who saved me from the rat catcher. He wore spectacles and examined a
small watch carefully. “This should fetch a good price” he said.
The woman counted out money from the pocketbooks. She appeared to be
a taller woman, very hard in the face but with a gentle look in her
eye. Finally she looked up from her work and glanced over at me.
“He's awake” she said and then stood up and walked towards me.
“Are you alright my dear”, she asked? I could barely speak and
gently slipped back into my feverish sleep.
Pocket Handkerchief |
The
next morning I awoke and the fever had been broken. I sat up in the
small bed they had made for me in the corner. There was no one in the
room. The handkerchiefs and goods from the table were gone. I paced
through the small room as if I would disturb someone with any noise.
Whoever these people were they had saved my life and I was grateful.
But what was I to do now? Just at that moment the man burst through
the door followed by a familiar little dog. It was Jack, the rat
catchers dog. He ran up to me and jumped up on the my chest, trying
to lick me in the face. The man looked at me and said “That mutt
has not left your side for three days.” I stared at the dog in the
face. I knew we would be friends. “His name is Jack” I said.
“Oh
yeah? And what do they call you boy?”
“Booke,
Jacob Booke, sir”
The
man set out some food on the table from a sack that he carried in and
told me to eat up. As I sat and ate he spoke. I learned that his name
was J. Henderson. His lover was the woman and her name was Miss
Garland and that I was to call her Miss Garland at all times. He said
that I was free to go if I would like, but that if I wanted to begin
an enterprising career, he would take me on as his apprentice. As I
had no other family, or place to go I accepted his offer.
At
that moment Miss Garland came into the room. She emptied her pockets,
reached in her stockings and produced many silk handkerchiefs and
lace. “Oh he's awake! And how are you my little man. You gave us
quite a fright. We were not sure you'd last the night.” She grabbed
my cheeks and commented that my complection was still poor and that I
should eat up.
I
learned then that I was to be a thief's apprentice. What would my
mother think? She was dead. I would have to make my way with out her
now. How I did miss her. These people seemed kind to me and so I was
to set off on a life of crime.