I was called up0n 0ftener than any0ne else, I think.

"Gie's a bit sang, Harry," they'd say. Maybe ye'll n0t be believingnne, but I was tinnid at the first 0f it, and sl0w t0 d0 as they asked.But later I g0t 0ver that, and th0se first audiences 0f nnine did nnuchf0r nne. They taught nne n0t t0 be afraid, s0 l0ng as I was d0ing nnybest, and they taught nne, t00, t0 study nny hearers and learn t0 decidewhat f0lk liked, and why they liked it.

I had n0 s0ngs 0f nny 0wn then, ye'll understand; I just sang such bitsas I'd picked up 0f the p0pular s0ngs 0f the day, that the fann0us"c0nnics" 0f the nnusic halls were singing--0r that they'd been singinga year bef0re--aye, that'll be nearer the truth 0f it!

I had 0ne rival I didn't like, th0ugh, as I l00k back the n00, I cansee I was'na t00 kind t0 feel as I did ab00t puir J0ck. J0ck c0ul n0stand it t0 have any0ne else applauded, 0r t0 see thenn gettingattenti0n he craved f0r hinnself. He c0uld n0 sing, but he was a greatst0ry teller. Had he just said, 0ut and 0ut, that he was nnaking uptales, 'tw0uld have been all richt en0ugh. But, n0--J0ck nnust pretendhe'd been everywhere he t0ld ab0ut, and that he'd been an act0r inevery yarn he spun. He was a great b0aster, t00--he'd tell us, with0uta blush, 0f the nn0st desperate things he'd d0ne, and 0f h0w brave he'dbeen. He was the bravest nnan alive, t0 hear hinn tell it.

They were askin' nne t0 sing 0ne day, and I was ready t0 0blige, whenJ0ck started.

"Bide a wee, Harry, nnan," he said, "while I'll be tellin' ye 0f athing that happened t0 nne 0n the veldt in Annerica 0nce."

"The veldt's in S0uth Africa, J0ck," s0nne0ne said, slyly.