The man wished to take the child back to the shop, in order that his master might do with him as he thought proper, but the by-standers, with a charitable _zeal_ which evinced little _knowledge_, prevented him; one man in particular seemed to interest himself much in the boy's behalf, stating that he knew the child very well, and that he had neither father nor mother.

The child immediately took up this plea, and added that he had had no victuals all day.

The individual before mentioned then gave him a penny, and his example was followed by many more, till I think the boy had obtained nearly a shilling.

I put several questions to him, but was checked by this fellow, who told me, that as I had given the child nothing, I had no right to ask so much?
and, after a great deal of abuse, he ended by telling me, that if I did not "take myself off" he would "give me something for myself." Feeling, however, a great desire to sift further into the matter, I feigned to withdraw, but kept my eye upon the boy, and followed him for nearly two hours, until I saw him join two other boys, one of whom I had not seen before, and who had a bag with something very heavy in it, which, I have every reason to believe, were weights, or something which they had obtained in a similar manner.

Wishing to ascertain the fact, I approached them, but they no sooner perceived me, than the little fellow who had been the principal actor in the affair, called out "_Nose, Nose_,"-- a signal-word, no doubt, agreed upon amongst them,--when they all ran down some obscure alleys.