The Boy Burglar Again!

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 98, 24 April 1886, Page 3

The Boy Burglar Again!

Mobning.—Sent off to Board School for the first timo. Fathor says, "I'm such a desperate young scapegrace, he'll bo glad to be rid of mo," Mother says the same. Jolly new elate and satchel. Wonder what they'll fetch ? Raise two bob on them at once at pawnbroker's. Meet Jimmy Wilson (by appointment) at grog-shop. Lay in twopenu'orth of brandy each, and feel up to any tfa ing. Feel like what Jack Sheppard felt, in that jolly book young Bill Sikes lent me. Bill joins us. Says he's got a revolver, and no end of silent matches ! Hurrah ! Fool more like Jack Sheppard than ever. Later.—l've got revolver too ! Bill said it wasn't like Jack Sheppard if we only had one pistol among throe. Asked me if I hadn't got "any blooming pocket-money," I said no. Told me to go home and steal as much money as I could find, and come back. Didn't like it, but Bill said it was just what Jack Sheppard would have done, and " he'd swing for me if I didn't obey him." Ran off at once, arid stole ten shillings ;' got a jolly revolver how' all to myself, and bullets. Don't know how to load, but Bill does.

Afternoon,—Jimmy Wilson Bhows us empty house, where we oan lie dark till night-time. Send Jimmy—he's only 12 years old—out to get pork pie, loaf, a dark lantern, and some bottled beer with remains of the 10s. Jolly feed. Council of war. What house shall we break into tonight ? Bill seems te know one. Says he's had his eye on it a long time. I suggest a little riot all by ourselves, and smashing shop-windows. Bill asks what good that would do us. Bill's fourteen and a half, and knows more than we do. Says it's only the unemployed that aro allowed by the Government to do that sort of thing, and we ahVt unemployed, are we? Winks. Jolly fellow, Bill. Jolly pork pie, too. Fool rather nervous. Wonder if Jack Sheppard ever felt nervous. Bill calls me a sneak, and asks me what's the good of being 13 yearsold if I'm not going to act like a man. Gives me a lot of bottled beer to drink. Curious, feel quite plucky again. Let off revolver by mistake, and nearly kill Jimmy Wilson, who begins to cry bitterly, and says " he'll tell his mother if I'm not more careful." Bill kicks us both and then we clear out of house by window for fear tbe report of revolver may have been heard. Spend time till dark in corner of empty field. Bill gives me penny copy of " Boy Pirates : or, the Black Gang," to read ; also "DickTurpin." Jolly stories, but feel cold. Shall be better when I'm really burgling, What swells we are. Evening.—P.ill produces bunoh of skele-ton-keys. Makes us both swear on book (which he says is a Bible) to be true to each other, and to " spill blood like water." Says Jack Sheppard always did this. Tell him I don't remember anything about it iv book. Says if it wasn't Jack Sheppard, it was Dick Turpin, and it's all the same thing. Kicks me again. Wonder if Dick Turpin or Jack Sheppard were kicked before going on a robbing expedition ? Night.—lnside a houso at last. Waited two hours to sco tho peoplo well out of it. Got in by area door. Feel jolly frightened. Revolverin one hand and lantern in theother, and don't know which is which, Jimmy Wilson has run home. Bill says " he'll kill him to-morrow for certain." Just going to imitate Jimmy, but think I'll stay now. On Roof.—There was a bull-dog in house, and we didn't know it. He's chased us on to roof, and is barking furiously. What a shame to leave a brute like that in the house. And he's not muzzled. What did Jack ! Sheppard do when he met a bull-dog ? Bill badly bitten all over. He tried to shoot dog, but his revolver wouldn't go off. Oh dear, what will my poor mother say ? In Police Cell.—Been crying all night. Want police to send for my mother. They laugh, and tell me I'll have to see the Magis trate first. Wish I'd never read" Jack Sheppard." Bill (in next cell) hammers on wall, and tells me "not to be spooney, or he'll skin me alive when he gets out." Oh dear. Wish I had run away with Jimmy Wilson.

At Home. —Sore all over. Magistrate recommended father to take me home and " birch me soundly." He did. Wonder if Jack Sheppard ever got birched? Locked me In a raom by myßelf, with bread and wator for food. Mother crying at the keyhole. What a" donkey I have been. Wonder if Bill will really skin me alive, or hot?—" Punch."