AustLit

An itinerant conjuror in England narrates his Christmas experience years before when, unable to earn his Christmas dinner, he strikes a bargain with a poacher to have his dog kill his guinea pigs and appeal to the public for money to replace the 'trained' animals. They were not trained but he made a profit and bought the dog as insurance for future hard times. Notes the increasing sophistication of his audience and difficulty surviving as itinerant entertainer. (PB)