Here the person sitting next to me, speaking low, informed me that this
was Jimmy Jacob, the sweep, that he owned a pet jackdaw, known to every
one in the village, and supposed to be the cleverest bird that ever
was. He added that Jimmy could be very amusing about his bird.
"I'd already begun to feel curious about that bird of yours," I said,
addressing the sweep. "I'd like very much to hear his history. Did you
take him from the nest?"
"Yes, Jim," said the man next to me. "Tell us how you came by the bird;
it's sure to be a good story."
Jimmy, having found a seat and had a mug of beer put before him, began
by remarking that he knew someone had been interesting himself in that
bird of his. "When I went home to tea this afternoon," he continued,
"my missus, she says to me: 'There's that bird of yours again,' she
says."
"'What bird,' says I. 'If you mean Jac,' says I, 'what's he done now? -
out with it.'
"'We'll talk about what he's done bimeby,' says she. 'What I mean is, a
gentleman called to ask about that bird.'
"'Oh, did he?' says I. 'Yes,' she says. 'I told him I didn't know
nothing about it. He could go and ask you. You'd be sure to tell him a
lot.'
"'And what did the gentleman say to that?' says I.
"'He arsked me who you was, an' I said you was the sweep an' you had a
carpenter's shop near the pub, and was supposed to do carpentering.'
"Supposed to do carpentering! That's how she said it.
"'And what did the gentleman say to that?' says I.
"'He said he thought he seen you at the inn, and I said that's just
where he would see you.'
"'Anything more between you and the gentleman?' says I, and she said:
'No, nothing more except that he said he'd look you up and arst if you
was a funny little fat man, sort of round, with a little red face.' And
I said, 'Yes, that's him.'"
Here I thought it time to break in. "It's true," I said, "I called at
your cottage and saw your wife, but there's no truth in the account
you've given of the conversation I had with her."
There was a general laugh. "Oh, very well," said Jimmy. "After that
I've nothing more to say about the bird or anything else."
I replied that I was sorry, but we need not begin our acquaintance by
quarrelling - that it would be better to have a drink together.
Jimmy smiled consent, and I called for another pint for Jimmy and a
soda for myself; then added I was so sorry he had taken it that way as
I should have liked to hear how he got his bird.
