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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
constrained to watch them still in the red coals of my fire。 They were all
arrived by this time； I thought； had got their tickets； and were gone in。
There my pleasure was dashed by the reflection that probably some
Travellers had come too late and were shut out。
After the Cathedral bell had struck eight； I could smell a delicious
savour of Turkey and Roast Beef rising to the window of my adjoining
bedroom； which looked down into the inn…yard just where the lights of the
kitchen reddened a massive fragment of the Castle Wall。 It was high
time to make the Wassail now； therefore I had up the materials （which；
together with their proportions and combinations； I must decline to impart；
as the only secret of my own I was ever known to keep）； and made a
glorious jorum。 Not in a bowl； for a bowl anywhere but on a shelf is a
low superstition； fraught with cooling and slopping； but in a brown
earthenware pitcher； tenderly suffocated； when full； with a coarse cloth。
It being now upon the stroke of nine； I set out for Watts's Charity； carrying
my brown beauty in my arms。 I would trust Ben； the waiter； with untold
gold； but there are strings in the human heart which must never be
sounded by another； and drinks that I make myself are those strings in
mine。
The Travellers were all assembled； the cloth was laid； and Ben had
brought a great billet of wood； and had laid it artfully on the top of the fire；
so that a touch or two of the poker after supper should make a roaring
blaze。 Having deposited my brown beauty in a red nook of the hearth；
inside the fender； where she soon began to sing like an ethereal cricket；
diffusing at the same time odours as of ripe vineyards； spice forests； and
orange groves；I say； having stationed my beauty in a place of security
and improvement； I introduced myself to my guests by shaking hands all
round； and giving them a hearty welcome。
I found the party to be thus composed。 Firstly； myself。 Secondly； a
very decent man indeed； with his right arm in a sling； who had a certain
clean agreeable smell of wood about him； from which I judged him to
have something to do with shipbuilding。 Thirdly； a little sailor…boy； a
mere child； with a profusion of rich dark brown hair； and deep womanly…
looking eyes。 Fourthly； a shabby…genteel personage in a threadbare black
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
suit； and apparently in very bad circumstances； with a dry suspicious look；
the absent buttons on his waistcoat eked out with red tape； and a bundle of
extraordinarily tattered papers sticking out of an inner breast…pocket。
Fifthly； a foreigner by birth； but an Englishman in speech； who carried his
pipe in the band of his hat； and lost no time in telling me； in an easy；
simple； engaging way； that he was a watchmaker from Geneva； and
travelled all about the Continent； mostly on foot； working as a journeyman；
and seeing new countries；possibly （I thought） also smuggling a watch or
so； now and then。 Sixthly； a little widow； who had been very pretty and
was still very young； but whose beauty had been wrecked in some great
misfortune； and whose manner was remarkably timid； scared； and solitary。
Seventhly and lastly； a Traveller of a kind familiar to my boyhood； but
now almost obsolete；a Book…Pedler； who had a quantity of Pamphlets
and Numbers with him； and who presently boasted that he could repeat
more verses in an evening than he could sell in a twelvemonth。
All these I have mentioned in the order in which they sat at table。 I
presided； and the matronly presence faced me。 We were not long in
taking our places； for the supper had arrived with me； in the following
procession：
Myself with the pitcher。 Ben with Beer。 Inattentive Boy with hot
plates。 Inattentive Boy with hot plates。 THE TURKEY。 Female carrying
sauces to be heated on the spot。 THE BEEF。 Man with Tray on his head；
containing Vegetables and Sundries。 Volunteer Hostler from Hotel；
grinning； And rendering no assistance。
As we passed along the High Street； comet…like； we left a long tail of
fragrance behind us which caused the public to stop； sniffing in wonder。
We had previously left at the corner of the inn…yard a wall…eyed young
man connected with the Fly department； and well accustomed to the sound
of a railway whistle which Ben always carries in his pocket； whose
instructions were； so soon as he should hear the whistle blown； to dash
into the kitchen； seize the hot plum…pudding and mince…pies； and speed
with them to Watts's Charity； where they would be received （he was
further instructed） by the sauce…female； who would be provided with
brandy in a blue state of combustion。
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THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
All these arrangements were executed in the most exact and punctual
manner。 I never saw a finer turkey； finer beef； or greater prodigality of
sauce and gravy；and my Travellers did wonderful justice to everything
set before them。 It made my heart rejoice to observe how their wind and
frost hardened faces softened in the clatter of plates and knives and forks；
and mellowed in the fire and supper heat。 While their hats and caps and
wrappers； hanging up； a few small bundles on the ground in a corner； and
in another corner three or four old walking…sticks； worn down at the end to
mere fringe； linked this smug interior with the bleak outside in a golden
chain。
When supper was done； and my brown beauty had been elevated on
the table； there was a general requisition to me to 〃take the corner；〃 which
suggested to me comfortably enough how much my friends here made of a
fire；for when had I ever thought so highly of the corner； since the days
when I connected it with Jack