Page:Studies in the art of rat-catching (IA studiesinartofra00barkrich).pdf/18

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4
Introduction.

voice spoke at last, and my destiny was settled.

With the modest capital of five shillings given me by my father, and a mongrel terrier, given me by a poacher who had to go into retirement for killing a pheasant and half killing a keeper, I began my career as a—but I had better give you one of my professional cards. Here it is—

Bob Joy,
rat-catcher

To H.RH. The Prince of Wales,
The Nobility and Gentry.

I had a struggle at first. Rats, full-grown ones, only fetched twopence each, and the system adopted by farmers of letting their