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There¡¡was¡¡also¡¡a¡¡sprinkling¡¡of¡¡those¡¡unfortunate¡¡outcasts¡¡of¡¡society¡¡¡­¡¡tramps¡¡and¡¡destitute£»¡¡drunken¡¡loafers¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡self¡­righteous¡¡hypocrites¡¡who¡¡despise¡¡these¡¡poor¡¡wretches¡¡had¡¡been¡¡subjected¡¡to¡¡the¡¡same¡¡conditions£»¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡inevitably¡¡have¡¡become¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡these¡£

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¡®Anyone¡¡can¡¡see¡¡what¡¡THEY¡¡are£»'¡¡sneered¡¡Crass£»¡¡¡®there¡¡isn't¡¡fifty¡¡genuine¡¡tradesmen¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡crowd£»¡¡and¡¡most¡¡of¡¡'em¡¡wouldn't¡¡work¡¡if¡¡they¡¡'ad¡¡the¡¡offer¡¡of¡¡it¡£'

¡®That's¡¡just¡¡what¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thinkin'£»'¡¡agreed¡¡Sawkins¡¡with¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£

¡®There¡¡will¡¡be¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡time¡¡to¡¡say¡¡that¡¡when¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡offered¡¡work¡¡and¡¡have¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡Owen¡£

¡®This¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing¡¡does¡¡the¡¡town¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡'arm£»'¡¡remarked¡¡Slyme£»¡¡¡®it¡¡oughtn't¡¡to¡¡be¡¡allowed£»¡¡the¡¡police¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡all¡¡the¡¡gentry¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡place£¡'

¡®Bloody¡¡disgraceful£»¡¡I¡¡call¡¡it£»'¡¡said¡¡Crass£»¡¡¡®marchin'¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Parade¡¡on¡¡a¡¡beautiful¡¡day¡¡like¡¡this£»¡¡just¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡time¡¡when¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gentry¡¡is¡¡out¡¡enjoyin'¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡hair¡£'

¡®I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡think¡¡they¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡at¡¡home¡¡and¡¡starve¡¡quietly£»'¡¡said¡¡Owen¡£¡¡¡¡¡®I¡¡don't¡¡see¡¡why¡¡these¡¡men¡¡should¡¡care¡¡what¡¡harm¡¡they¡¡do¡¡to¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡the¡¡town¡¡doesn't¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡care¡¡much¡¡what¡¡becomes¡¡of¡¡THEM¡£'

¡®Do¡¡you¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡thing£»¡¡then£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Slyme¡£

¡®No£»¡¡certainly¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡begging¡¡as¡¡a¡¡favour¡¡for¡¡what¡¡one¡¡is¡¡entitled¡¡to¡¡demand¡¡as¡¡a¡¡right¡¡from¡¡the¡¡thieves¡¡who¡¡have¡¡robbed¡¡them¡¡and¡¡who¡¡are¡¡now¡¡enjoying¡¡the¡¡fruits¡¡of¡¡their¡¡labour¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the¡¡look¡¡of¡¡shame¡¡on¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡you¡¡might¡¡think¡¡that¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡criminals¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡being¡¡the¡¡victims¡£'

¡®Well¡¡you¡¡must¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡is¡¡very¡¡inferior¡¡men£»'¡¡said¡¡Crass¡¡with¡¡a¡¡self¡­satisfied¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡¡®There's¡¡very¡¡few¡¡mechanics¡¡amongst¡¡em¡£'

¡®What¡¡about¡¡it¡¡if¡¡they¡¡are£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡difference¡¡does¡¡that¡¡make£¿'¡¡replied¡¡Owen¡£¡¡¡¡¡®They're¡¡human¡¡beings£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡have¡¡as¡¡much¡¡right¡¡to¡¡live¡¡as¡¡anyone¡¡else¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡is¡¡called¡¡unskilled¡¡labour¡¡is¡¡just¡¡as¡¡necessary¡¡and¡¡useful¡¡as¡¡yours¡¡or¡¡mine¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡no¡¡more¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡¡¨unskilled¡¨¡¡labour¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡these¡¡men¡¡do¡¡than¡¡most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡would¡¡be¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡my¡¡work¡£'

¡®Well£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡was¡¡skilled¡¡tradesmen£»¡¡they¡¡might¡¡find¡¡it¡¡easier¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡job£»'¡¡said¡¡Crass¡£

Owen¡¡laughed¡¡offensively¡£

¡®Do¡¡you¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡you¡¡think¡¡that¡¡if¡¡all¡¡these¡¡men¡¡could¡¡be¡¡transformed¡¡into¡¡skilled¡¡carpenters£»¡¡plasterers£»¡¡bricklayers£»¡¡and¡¡painters£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡all¡¡those¡¡other¡¡chaps¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡passed¡¡a¡¡little¡¡while¡¡ago¡¡to¡¡get¡¡work£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡that¡¡you¡¡or¡¡any¡¡other¡¡sane¡¡man¡¡can¡¡believe¡¡anything¡¡so¡¡silly¡¡as¡¡that£¿'

Crass¡¡did¡¡not¡¡reply¡£

¡®If¡¡there¡¡is¡¡not¡¡enough¡¡work¡¡to¡¡employ¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mechanics¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡see¡¡standing¡¡idle¡¡about¡¡the¡¡streets£»¡¡how¡¡would¡¡it¡¡help¡¡these¡¡labourers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡procession¡¡if¡¡they¡¡could¡¡all¡¡become¡¡skilled¡¡workmen£¿'

Still¡¡Crass¡¡did¡¡not¡¡answer£»¡¡and¡¡neither¡¡Slyme¡¡nor¡¡Sawkins¡¡came¡¡to¡¡his¡¡assistance¡£

¡®If¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡done£»'¡¡continued¡¡Owen£»¡¡¡®it¡¡would¡¡simply¡¡make¡¡things¡¡worse¡¡for¡¡those¡¡who¡¡are¡¡already¡¡skilled¡¡mechanics¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡greater¡¡number¡¡of¡¡skilled¡¡workers¡¡¡­¡¡keener¡¡competition¡¡for¡¡skilled¡¡workmen's¡¡jobs¡¡¡­¡¡a¡¡larger¡¡number¡¡of¡¡mechanics¡¡out¡¡of¡¡employment£»¡¡and¡¡consequently£»¡¡improved¡¡opportunities¡¡for¡¡employers¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡wages¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡probably¡¡the¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡the¡¡Liberal¡¡Party¡¡¡­¡¡which¡¡consists¡¡for¡¡the¡¡most¡¡part¡¡of¡¡exploiters¡¡of¡¡labour¡¡¡­¡¡procured¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Jim¡¡Scalds¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡that¡¡improved¡¡technical¡¡education¡¡is¡¡the¡¡remedy¡¡for¡¡unemployment¡¡and¡¡poverty¡£'

¡®I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡think¡¡Jim¡¡Scalds¡¡is¡¡a¡¡bloody¡¡fool£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡everybody¡¡else¡¡what¡¡don't¡¡see¡¡things¡¡YOUR¡¡way£¿'¡¡said¡¡Sawkins¡£

¡®I¡¡should¡¡think¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡if¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡believed¡¡what¡¡he¡¡says¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡he¡¡believes¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡says¡¡it¡¡because¡¡he¡¡thinks¡¡the¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡the¡¡working¡¡classes¡¡are¡¡such¡¡fools¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡believe¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡didn't¡¡think¡¡that¡¡most¡¡of¡¡us¡¡are¡¡fools¡¡he¡¡wouldn't¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡such¡¡a¡¡yarn¡¡as¡¡that¡£'

¡®And¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡you¡¡think¡¡as¡¡'is¡¡opinion¡¡ain't¡¡far¡¡wrong£»'¡¡snarled¡¡Crass¡£

¡®We¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡better¡¡able¡¡to¡¡judge¡¡of¡¡that¡¡after¡¡the¡¡next¡¡General¡¡Election£»'¡¡replied¡¡Owen¡£¡¡¡¡¡®If¡¡the¡¡working¡¡classes¡¡again¡¡elect¡¡a¡¡majority¡¡of¡¡Liberal¡¡or¡¡Tory¡¡landlords¡¡and¡¡employers¡¡to¡¡rule¡¡over¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡prove¡¡that¡¡Jim¡¡Scalds'¡¡estimate¡¡of¡¡their¡¡intelligence¡¡is¡¡about¡¡right¡£'

¡®Well£»¡¡anyhow£»'¡¡persisted¡¡Slyme£»¡¡¡®I¡¡don't¡¡think¡¡it's¡¡a¡¡right¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡be¡¡allowed¡¡to¡¡go¡¡marchin'¡¡about¡¡like¡¡that¡¡¡­¡¡driving¡¡visitors¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡£'

¡®What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡they¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡then£¿'¡¡demanded¡¡Owen¡£

¡®Let¡¡the¡¡brs¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bloody¡¡workhouse£¡'¡¡shouted¡¡Crass¡£

¡®But¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡be¡¡received¡¡there¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡absolutely¡¡homeless¡¡and¡¡destitute£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡ratepayers¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡costs¡¡about¡¡twelve¡¡shillings¡¡a¡¡week¡¡for¡¡each¡¡inmate£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡more¡¡sensible¡¡and¡¡economical¡¡for¡¡the¡¡community¡¡to¡¡employ¡¡them¡¡on¡¡some¡¡productive¡¡work¡£'

They¡¡had¡¡by¡¡this¡¡time¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡yard¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡steps¡¡and¡¡ladders¡¡were¡¡put¡¡away¡¡in¡¡their¡¡places¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dirty¡¡paint¡­pots¡¡and¡¡pails¡¡were¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡paint¡­shop¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bench¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡what¡¡had¡¡previously¡¡been¡¡brought¡¡back¡¡there¡¡were¡¡a¡¡great¡¡many¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡all¡¡needing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡cleaned¡¡out£»¡¡so¡¡Bert¡¡at¡¡any¡¡rate¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡no¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡being¡¡out¡¡of¡¡employment¡¡for¡¡some¡¡time¡¡to¡¡come¡£

When¡¡they¡¡were¡¡paid¡¡at¡¡the¡¡office£»¡¡Owen¡¡on¡¡opening¡¡his¡¡envelope¡¡found¡¡it¡¡contained¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡a¡¡time¡¡sheet¡¡for¡¡the¡¡next¡¡week£»¡¡which¡¡meant¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡¡®stood¡¡off'¡¡although¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡¡what¡¡work¡¡there¡¡would¡¡be¡¡to¡¡do¡£¡¡¡¡Crass¡¡and¡¡Slyme¡¡were¡¡both¡¡to¡¡go¡¡to¡¡the¡¡¡®Cave'¡¡to¡¡fix¡¡the¡¡venetian¡¡blinds£»¡¡and¡¡Sawkins¡¡also¡¡was¡¡to¡¡come¡¡to¡¡work¡¡as¡¡usual¡£



Chapter¡¡28

The¡¡Week¡¡before¡¡Christmas


During¡¡the¡¡next¡¡week¡¡Owen¡¡painted¡¡a¡¡sign¡¡on¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡wall¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡workshops¡¡at¡¡the¡¡yard£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡also¡¡wrote¡¡the¡¡name¡¡of¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡on¡¡three¡¡of¡¡the¡¡handcarts¡£

These¡¡and¡¡other¡¡odd¡¡jobs¡¡kept¡¡him¡¡employed¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡every¡¡day£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡actually¡¡out¡¡of¡¡work¡£

One¡¡afternoon¡¡¡­¡¡there¡¡being¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do¡¡¡­¡¡he¡¡went¡¡home¡¡at¡¡three¡¡o'clock£»¡¡but¡¡almost¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡house¡¡Bert¡¡White¡¡came¡¡with¡¡a¡¡coffin¡­plate¡¡which¡¡had¡¡to¡¡be¡¡written¡¡at¡¡once¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡lad¡¡said¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡instructed¡¡to¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡it¡£

Nora¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡some¡¡tea¡¡and¡¡bread¡¡and¡¡butter¡¡to¡¡eat¡¡whilst¡¡Owen¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡coffin¡­plate£»¡¡and¡¡presently¡¡Frankie¡¡¡­¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡playing¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street¡¡¡­¡¡made¡¡his¡¡appearance¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡two¡¡boys¡¡were¡¡already¡¡known¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡for¡¡Bert¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡several¡¡times¡¡before¡¡¡­¡¡on¡¡errands¡¡similar¡¡to¡¡the¡¡present¡¡one£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡take¡¡lessons¡¡on¡¡graining¡¡and¡¡letter¡­painting¡¡from¡¡Owen¡£

¡®I'm¡¡going¡¡to¡¡have¡¡a¡¡party¡¡next¡¡Monday¡¡¡­¡¡after¡¡Christmas£»'¡¡remarked¡¡Frankie¡£¡¡¡¡¡®Mother¡¡told¡¡me¡¡I¡¡might¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡if¡¡you'll¡¡come£¿'

¡®All¡¡right£»'¡¡said¡¡Bert£»¡¡¡®and¡¡I'll¡¡bring¡¡my¡¡Pandoramer¡£'

¡®What¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡alive£¿'¡¡asked¡¡Frankie¡¡with¡¡a¡¡puzzled¡¡look¡£

¡®Alive£¡¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡of¡¡course¡¡not£»'¡¡replied¡¡Bert¡¡with¡¡a¡¡superior¡¡air¡£¡¡¡¡¡®It's¡¡a¡¡show£»¡¡like¡¡they¡¡have¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Hippodrome¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Circus¡£'

¡®How¡¡big¡¡is¡¡it£¿'

¡®Not¡¡very¡¡big£º¡¡it's¡¡made¡¡out¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sugar¡­box¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡made¡¡it¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡It's¡¡not¡¡quite¡¡finished¡¡yet£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡get¡¡it¡¡done¡¡this¡¡week¡£¡¡¡¡There's¡¡a¡¡band¡¡as¡¡well£»¡¡you¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡that¡¡part¡¡with¡¡this¡£'

¡®This'¡¡was¡¡a¡¡large¡¡mouth¡¡organ¡¡which¡¡he¡¡produced¡¡from¡¡the¡¡inner¡¡pocket¡¡of¡¡his¡¡coat¡£

¡®Play¡¡something¡¡now¡£'

Bert¡¡accordingly¡¡played£»¡¡and¡¡Frankie¡¡sang¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡his¡¡voice¡¡a¡¡selection¡¡of¡¡popular¡¡songs£»¡¡including¡¡¡®The¡¡Old¡¡Bull¡¡and¡¡Bush'£»¡¡¡®Has¡¡Anyone¡¡seen¡¡a¡¡German¡¡Band£¿'£»¡¡¡®Waiting¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Church'¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡¡­¡¡possibly¡¡as¡¡a¡¡dirge¡¡for¡¡the¡¡individual¡¡whose¡¡coffin¡­plate¡¡Owen¡¡was¡¡writing¡¡¡­¡¡¡®Goodbye£»¡¡Mignonette'¡¡and¡¡¡®I¡¡wouldn't¡¡leave¡¡my¡¡little¡¡wooden¡¡hut¡¡for¡¡you'¡£

¡®You¡¡don't¡¡know¡¡what's¡¡in¡¡that£»'¡¡said¡¡Frankie£»¡¡referring¡¡to¡¡a¡¡large¡¡earthenware¡¡bread¡­pan¡¡which¡¡Nora¡¡had¡¡just¡¡asked¡¡Owen¡¡to¡¡help¡¡her¡¡to¡¡lift¡¡from¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡on¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡chairs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡vessel¡¡in¡¡question¡¡was¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡a¡¡clean¡¡white¡¡cloth¡£

¡®Christmas¡¡pudding£»'¡¡replied¡¡Bert£»¡¡promptly¡£

¡®Guessed¡¡right¡¡first¡¡time£¡'¡¡cried¡¡Frankie¡£¡¡¡¡¡®We¡¡got¡¡the¡¡things¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Christmas¡¡Club¡¡on¡¡Saturday¡£¡¡¡¡We've¡¡been¡¡paying¡¡in¡¡ever¡¡since¡¡last¡¡Christmas¡£¡¡¡¡We're¡¡going¡¡to¡¡mix¡¡it¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡can¡¡have¡¡a¡¡stir¡¡too¡¡if¡¡you¡¡like£»¡¡for¡¡luck¡£'

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