the uncommercial traveller-第24章

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scudding　like　mad　across　and　across　the　chequered　ground　before

us）；　and　so　over　the　park　ladder；　and　through　the　wood；　until　we

came　to　the　Keeper's　lodge。　　Then；　would；　the　Keeper　be

discoverable　at　his　door；　in　a　deep　nest　of　leaves；　smoking　his

pipe。　　Then；　on　our　accosting　him　in　the　way　of　our　trade；　would　he

call　to　Mrs。　Keeper；　respecting　't'ould　clock'　in　the　kitchen。

Then；　would　Mrs。　Keeper　ask　us　into　the　lodge；　and　on　due

examination　we　should　offer　to　make　a　good　job　of　it　for

eighteenpence；　which　offer；　being　accepted；　would　set　us　tinkling

and　clinking　among　the　chubby；　awe…struck　little　Keepers　for　an

hour　and　more。　　So　completely　to　the　family's　satisfaction　would　we

achieve　our　work；　that　the　Keeper　would　mention　how　that　there　was

something　wrong　with　the　bell　of　the　turret　stable…clock　up　at　the

Hall；　and　that　if　we　thought　good　of　going　up　to　the　housekeeper　on

the　chance　of　that　job　too；　why　he　would　take　us。　　Then；　should　we

go；　among　the　branching　oaks　and　the　deep　fern；　by　silent　ways　of

mystery　known　to　the　Keeper；　seeing　the　herd　glancing　here　and

there　as　we　went　along；　until　we　came　to　the　old　Hall；　solemn　and

grand。　　Under　the　Terrace　Flower　Garden；　and　round　by　the　stables；

would　the　Keeper　take　us　in；　and　as　we　passed　we　should　observe　how

spacious　and　stately　the　stables；　and　how　fine　the　painting　of　the

horses'　names　over　their　stalls；　and　how　solitary　all：　　the　family

being　in　London。　　Then；　should　we　find　ourselves　presented　to　the

housekeeper；　sitting；　in　hushed　state；　at　needlework；　in　a　bay…

window　looking　out　upon　a　mighty　grim　red…brick　quadrangle；　guarded

by　stone　lions　disrespectfully　throwing　somersaults　over　the

escutcheons　of　the　noble　family。　　Then；　our　services　accepted　and

we　insinuated　with　a　candle　into　the　stable…turret；　we　should　find

it　to　be　a　mere　question　of　pendulum；　but　one　that　would　hold　us

until　dark。　　Then；　should　we　fall　to　work；　with　a　general

impression　of　Ghosts　being　about；　and　of　pictures　indoors　that　of　a

certainty　came　out　of　their　frames　and　'walked；'　if　the　family

would　only　own　it。　　Then；　should　we　work　and　work；　until　the　day

gradually　turned　to　dusk；　and　even　until　the　dusk　gradually　turned

to　dark。　　Our　task　at　length　accomplished；　we　should　be　taken　into

an　enormous　servants'　hall；　and　there　regaled　with　beef　and　bread；

and　powerful　ale。　　Then；　paid　freely；　we　should　be　at　liberty　to

go；　and　should　be　told　by　a　pointing　helper　to　keep　round　over

yinder　by　the　blasted　ash；　and　so　straight　through　the　woods；　till

we　should　see　the　town…lights　right　afore　us。　　Then；　feeling

lonesome；　should　we　desire　upon　the　whole；　that　the　ash　had　not

been　blasted；　or　that　the　helper　had　had　the　manners　not　to　mention

it。　　However；　we　should　keep　on；　all　right；　till　suddenly　the

stable　bell　would　strike　ten　in　the　dolefullest　way；　quite　chilling

our　blood；　though　we　had　so　lately　taught　him　how　to　acquit

himself。　　Then；　as　we　went　on；　should　we　recall　old　stories；　and

dimly　consider　what　it　would　be　most　advisable　to　do；　in　the　event

of　a　tall　figure；　all　in　white；　with　saucer　eyes；　coming　up　and

saying；　'I　want　you　to　come　to　a　churchyard　and　mend　a　church

clock。　　Follow　me！'　　Then；　should　we　make　a　burst　to　get　clear　of

the　trees；　and　should　soon　find　ourselves　in　the　open；　with　the

town…lights　bright　ahead　of　us。　　So　should　we　lie　that　night　at　the

ancient　sign　of　the　Crispin　and　Crispanus；　and　rise　early　next

morning　to　be　betimes　on　tramp　again。



Bricklayers　often　tramp；　in　twos　and　threes；　lying　by　night　at

their　'lodges；'　which　are　scattered　all　over　the　country。

Bricklaying　is　another　of　the　occupations　that　can　by　no　means　be

transacted　in　rural　parts；　without　the　assistance　of　spectators　…

of　as　many　as　can　be　convened。　　In　thinly…peopled　spots；　I　have

known　brick…layers　on　tramp；　coming　up　with　bricklayers　at　work；　to

be　so　sensible　of　the　indispensability　of　lookers…on；　that　they

themselves　have　sat　up　in　that　capacity；　and　have　been　unable　to

subside　into　the　acceptance　of　a　proffered　share　in　the　job；　for

two　or　three　days　together。　　Sometimes；　the　'navvy；'　on　tramp；　with

an　extra　pair　of　half…boots　over　his　shoulder；　a　bag；　a　bottle；　and

a　can；　will　take　a　similar　part　in　a　job　of　excavation；　and　will

look　at　it　without　engaging　in　it；　until　all　his　money　is　gone。

The　current　of　my　uncommercial　pursuits　caused　me　only　last　summer

to　want　a　little　body　of　workmen　for　a　certain　spell　of　work　in　a

pleasant　part　of　the　country；　and　I　was　at　one　time　honoured　with

the　attendance　of　as　many　as　seven…and…twenty；　who　were　looking　at

six。



Who　can　be　familiar　with　any　rustic　highway　in　summer…time；　without

storing　up　knowledge　of　the　many　tramps　who　go　from　one　oasis　of

town　or　village　to　another；　to　sell　a　stock　in　trade；　apparently

not　worth　a　shilling　when　sold？　　Shrimps　are　a　favourite　commodity

for　this　kind　of　speculation；　and　so　are　cakes　of　a　soft　and　spongy

character；　coupled　with　Spanish　nuts　and　brandy　balls。　　The　stock

is　carried　on　the　head　in　a　basket；　and；　between　the　head　and　the

basket；　are　the　trestles　on　which　the　stock　is　displayed　at　trading

times。　　Fleet　of　foot；　but　a　careworn　class　of　tramp　this；　mostly；

with　a　certain　stiffness　of　neck；　occasioned　by　much　anxious

balancing　of　baskets；　and　also　with　a　long；　Chinese　sort　of　eye；

which　an　overweighted　forehead　would　seem　to　have　squeezed　into

that　form。



On　the　hot　dusty　roads　near　seaport　towns　and　great　rivers；　behold

the　tramping　Soldier。　　And　if　you　should　happen　never　to　have　asked

yourself　whether　his　uniform　is　suited　to　his　work；　perhaps　the

poor　fellow's　appearance　as　he　comes　distressfully　towards　you；

with　his　absurdly　tight　jacket　unbuttoned；　his　neck…gear　in　his

hand；　and　his　legs　well　chafed　by　his　trousers　of　baize；　may

suggest　the　personal　inquiry；　how　you　think　YOU　would　like　it。

Much　better　the　tramping　Sailor；　although　his　cloth　is　somewhat　too

thick　for　land　service。　　But；　why　the　tramping　merchant…mate　should

put　on　a　black　velvet　waistcoat；　for　a　chalky　country　in　the　dog…

days；　is　one　of　the　great　secrets　of　nature　that　will　never　be

discovered。



I　have　my　eye　upon　a　piece　of　Kentish　road；　bordered　on　either　side

by　a　wood；　and　having　on　one　hand；　between　the　road…dust　and　the

trees；　a　skirting　patch　of　grass。　　Wild　flowers　grow　in　abundance

on　this　spot；　and　it　lies　high　and　airy；　with　a　distant　river

stealing　steadily　away　to　the　ocean；　like　a　man's　life。　　To　gain

the　milestone　here；　which　the　moss；　primroses；　violets；　blue…bells；

and　wild　roses；　would　soon　render　illegible　but　for　peering

travellers　pushing　them　aside　with　their　sticks；　you　must　come　up　a

steep　hill；　come　which　way　you　may。　　So；　all　the　tramps　with　carts

or　caravans　…　the　Gipsy…tramp；　the　Show…tramp；　the　Cheap　Jack　…

find　it　impossible　to　resist　the　temptations　of　the　place；　and　all

turn　the　horse　loose　when　they　come　to　it；　and　boil　the　pot。　　Bless

the　place；　I　love　the　ashes　of　the　vagabond　fires　that　have

scorched　its　grass！　　What　tramp　children　do　I　see　here；　attired　in

a　handful　of　rags；　making　a　gymnasium　of　the　shafts　of　the　cart；

making　a　feather…bed　of　the　flints　and　brambles；　making　a　toy　of

the　hobbled　old　horse　who　is　not　much　more　like　a　horse　than　any

cheap　toy　would　be！　　Here；　do　I　encounter　the　cart　of　mats　and

brooms　and　baskets　…　with　all　thoughts　of　business　given　to　the

evening　wind　…　with　the　stew　made　and　being　served　out　…　with　Cheap

Jack　and　Dear　Jill　striking　soft　music　out　of　the　plates　that　are

rattled　like　warlike　cymbals　when　put　up　for　auction　at　fairs　and

markets　…　their　minds　so　influenced　（no　doubt）　by　the　melody　of　the

nightingales　as　they　begin　to　sing　in　the　woods　behind　them；　that

if　I　were　to　propose　to　deal；　they　would　sell　me　anything　at　cost

price。　　On　this　hallowed　ground　has　it　been　my　happy　privilege　（let

me　whisper　it）；　to　behold　the　White…haired　Lady　with　the　pink　eyes；

eating　meat…pie　with　the　Giant：　　while；　by　the　hedge…side；　on　the

box　of　blankets　which　I　knew　contained　the　snakes；　were　set　forth

the　cups　and　saucers　and　the　teapot。　　It　was　on　an　evening　in

August；　that　I　chanced　upon　this　ravishing　spectacle；　and　I　noticed

that；　whereas　the　Giant　reclined　half　concealed　beneath　the

overhanging　boughs　and　seemed　indifferent　to　Nature；　the　white　hair

of　the　gracious　Lady　streamed　free　in　the　breath　of　evening；　and

her　pink　eyes　found　pleasure　in　the　landscape。　　I　heard　only　a

single　sentence　of　her　uttering；　yet　it　bespoke　a　talent　for　modest

repartee。　　The　ill…mannered　Giant　…　accursed　be　his　evil　race！　…

had　interrupted　the　Lady　in　some　remark；　and；　as　I　passed　that

enchanted　corner　of　the　wood；　she　gently　reproved　him；　with　the

words；　'Now；　Cobby；'　…　Cobby！　so　short　a　name！　…　'ain't　one　fool

enough　to　talk　at　a　time？'



Within　appropriate　distance　of　this　magic　ground；　though　not　so

near　it　as　that　the　song　trolled　from　tap　or　bench　at　door；　can

invade　its　woodland　silence；　is　a　little　hostelry　which　no　man

possessed　of　a　penny　was　ever　known　to　pass　in　warm　weather。

Before　its　entrance；　are　certain　pleasant；　trimmed　limes；　likewise；

a　cool　well；　with　so　musical　a　bucket…handle　that　its　fall　upon　the

bucket　rim　will　make　a　horse　prick　up　his　ears　and　neigh；　upon　the

droughty　road　half　a　mile　off。　　This　is　a　house　of　great　resort　for

haymaking　tramps　and　harvest　tramps；　insomuch　that　as　they　sit

within；　drinking　their　mugs　of　beer；　their　relinquished　scythes　and

reaping…hooks　glare　out　of　the　open　windows；　as　if　the　whole

establishment　were　a　family　war…coach　of　Ancient　Britons。　　Later　in

the　season；　the　whole　country…side；　for　miles　and　miles；　will　swarm

with　hopping　tramps。　　They　come　in　families；　men；　women；　and

children；　every　family　provided　with　a　bundle　of　bedding；　an　iron

pot；　a　number　of　babies；　and　too　often　with　some　poor　sick　creature

quite　unfit　for　the　rough　life；　for　whom　they　suppose　the　smell　of

the　fresh　hop　to　be　a　sovereign　remedy。　　Many　of　these　hoppers　are

Irish；　but　many　come　from　London。　　They　crowd　all　the　roads；　and

camp　under　all　the　hedges　and　on　all　the　scraps　of　common…land；　and

live　among　and　upon　the　hops　until　they　are　all　picked；　and　the

hop…gardens；　so　beautiful　through　the　summer；　look　as　if　they　had

been　laid　waste　by　an　invading　army。　　Then；　there　is　a　vast　exodus

of　tramps　out　of　the　country；　and　if　you　ride　or　drive　round　any

turn　of　any　road；　at　more　than　a　foot　pace；　you　will　be　bewildered

to　find　that　you　have　charged　into　the　bosom　of　fifty　families；　and

that　there　are　splashing　up　all　around　you；　in　the　utmost

prodigality　of　confusion；　bundles　of　bedding；　babies；　iron　pots；

and　a　good…humoured　multitude　of　both　sexes　and　all　ages；　equally

divided　between　perspiration　and　intoxication。







CHAPTER　XII　…　DULLBOROUGH　TOWN







It　lately　happened　that　I　found　myself　rambling　about　the　scenes

among