For, though it includes what I proceed to add, all the merit was Joe's. It was not because I was faithful, but because Joe was faithful, that I never ran away and went for a soldier or a sailor. It was not because I had a strong sense of the virtue of industry, but because of Joe, that I worked with tolerable zeal against the grain.
As I was getting too big for Mr. Wopsle's aunt's room, my education under that lady ended. Not, however, until Biddy had imparted to me everything she knew, from the little catalogue of prices to a comic song she had once bought for a half-penny. Although the only coherent part of the latter piece were the opening lines:
When I went to Lunnon town, sirs,
Too rul loo rul
Too rul loo rul
Was 't I done very brown, sirs?
Too rul loo rul
Too rul loo rul
—still, in my desire to be wiser, I got this composition by heart with the utmost gravity; nor do I recollect that I questioned its merit, except that I thought (as I still do) the amount of Too rul somewhat in excess of the poetry.
Thus matters went until I reached the fourth year of my apprenticeship; and they bade fair to end that way, but for an unusual event.
I had gone with Joe one Saturday night to a neighboring tavern to join some friends. In the course of the conversation, a strange gentleman, who had been listening to us, stepped between us and the fire, and said:
"I understand that one of you is a blacksmith, by name, Joseph Gargery. Which is the man?"
"Here is the man," said Joe.
"You have an apprentice," pursued the stranger, "commonly known as Pip. Is he here?"
"Here," I answered.