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The Seven Poor Travellers
by Charles Dickens
CHAPTER IIN THE OLD CITY OF ROCHESTER
Strictly speaking； there were only six Poor Travellers； but； being a
Traveller myself； though an idle one； and being withal as poor as I
hope to be； I brought the number up to seven。 This word of
explanation is due at once； for what says the inscription over the
quaint old door？
RICHARD WATTS； Esq。
by his Will； dated 22 Aug。 1579；
founded this Charity
for Six poor Travellers；
who not being ROGUES； or PROCTORS；
May receive gratis for one Night；
Lodging； Entertainment；
and Fourpence each。
It was in the ancient little city of Rochester in Kent； of all the
good days in the year upon a Christmas…eve； that I stood reading
this inscription over the quaint old door in question。 I had been
wandering about the neighbouring Cathedral； and had seen the tomb of
Richard Watts； with the effigy of worthy Master Richard starting out
of it like a ship's figure…head； and I had felt that I could do no
less； as I gave the Verger his fee； than inquire the way to Watts's
Charity。 The way being very short and very plain； I had come
prosperously to the inscription and the quaint old door。
〃Now；〃 said I to myself； as I looked at the knocker； 〃I know I am
not a Proctor； I wonder whether I am a Rogue！〃
Upon the whole； though Conscience reproduced two or three pretty
faces which might have had smaller attraction for a moral Goliath
than they had had for me； who am but a Tom Thumb in that way； I came
to the conclusion that I was not a Rogue。 So； beginning to regard
the establishment as in some sort my property； bequeathed to me and
divers co…legatees； share and share alike； by the Worshipful Master
Richard Watts； I stepped backward into the road to survey my
inheritance。
I found it to be a clean white house； of a staid and venerable air；
with the quaint old door already three times mentioned （an arched
door）； choice little long low lattice…windows； and a roof of three
gables。 The silent High Street of Rochester is full of gables； with
old beams and timbers carved into strange faces。 It is oddly
garnished with a queer old clock that projects over the pavement out
of a grave red…brick building； as if Time carried on business there；
and hung out his sign。 Sooth to say； he did an active stroke of
work in Rochester； in the old days of the Romans； and the Saxons；
and the Normans； and down to the times of King John； when the rugged
castleI will not undertake to say how many hundreds of years old
thenwas abandoned to the centuries of weather which have so
defaced the dark apertures in its walls； that the ruin looks as if
the rooks and daws had pecked its eyes out。
I was very well pleased； both with my property and its situation。
While I was yet surveying it with growing content； I espied； at one
of the upper lattices which stood open； a decent body； of a
wholesome matronly appearance； whose eyes I caught inquiringly
addressed to mine。 They said so plainly； 〃Do you wish to see the
house？〃 that I answered aloud； 〃Yes； if you please。〃 And within a
minute the old door opened； and I bent my head； and went down two
steps into the entry。
〃This；〃 said the matronly presence； ushering me into a low room on
the right； 〃is where the Travellers sit by the fire； and cook what
bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences。〃
〃O！ Then they have no Entertainment？〃 said I。 For the inscription
over the outer door was still running in my head； and I was mentally
repeating； in a kind of tune； 〃Lodging； entertainment； and fourpence
each。〃
〃They have a fire provided for 'em；〃 returned the matrona mighty
civil person； not； as I could make out； overpaid； 〃and these cooking
utensils。 And this what's painted on a board is the rules for their
behaviour。 They have their fourpences when they get their tickets
from the steward over the way；for I don't admit 'em myself； they
must get their tickets first；and sometimes one buys a rasher of
bacon； and another a herring； and another a pound of potatoes； or
what not。 Sometimes two or three of 'em will club their fourpences
together； and make a supper that way。 But not much of anything is
to be got for fourpence； at present； when provisions is so dear。〃
〃True indeed；〃 I remarked。 I had been looking about the room；
admiring its snug fireside at the upper end； its glimpse of the
street through the low mullioned window； and its beams overhead。
〃It is very comfortable；〃 said I。
〃Ill…conwenient；〃 observed the matronly presence。
I liked to hear her say so； for it showed a commendable anxiety to
execute in no niggardly spirit the intentions of Master Richard
Watts。 But the room was really so well adapted to its purpose that
I protested； quite enthusiastically； against her disparagement。
〃Nay； ma'am；〃 said I； 〃I am sure it is warm in winter and cool in
summer。 It has a look of homely welcome and soothing rest。 It has
a remarkably cosey fireside； the very blink of which； gleaming out
into the street upon a winter night； is enough to warm all
Rochester's heart。 And as to the convenience of the six Poor
Travellers〃
〃I don't mean them；〃 returned the presence。 〃I speak of its being
an ill…conwenience to myself and my daughter； having no other room
to sit in of a night。〃
This was true enough； but there was another quaint room of
corresponding dimensions on the opposite side of the entry： so I
stepped across to it； through the open doors of both rooms； and
asked what this chamber was for。
〃This；〃 returned the presence； 〃is the Board Room。 Where the
gentlemen meet when they come here。〃
Let me see。 I had counted from the street six upper windows besides
these on the ground…story。 Making a perplexed calculation in my
mind； I rejoined； 〃Then the six Poor Travellers sleep upstairs？〃
My new friend shook her head。 〃They sleep；〃 she answered； 〃in two
little outer galleries at the back； where their beds has always
been； ever since the Charity was founded。 It being so very ill…
conwenient to me as things is at present； the gentlemen are going to
take off a bit of the back…yard； and make a slip of a room for 'em
there； to sit in before they go to bed。〃
〃And then the six Poor Travellers；〃 said I； 〃will be entirely out of
the house？〃
〃Entirely out of the house；〃 assented the presence； comfortably
smoothing her hands。 〃Which is considered much better for all
parties； and much more conwenient。〃
I had been a little startled； in the Cathedral； by the emphasis with
which the effigy of Master Richard Watts was bursting out of his
tomb； but I began to think； now； that it might be expected to come
across the High Street some stormy night； and make a disturbance
here。
Howbeit； I kept my thoughts to myself； and accompanied the presence
to the little galleries at the back。 I found them on a tiny scale；
like the galleries in old inn…yards； and they were very clean。
While I was looking at them； the matron gave me to understand that
the prescribed number of Poor Travellers were forthcoming every
night from year's end to year's end； and that the beds were always
occupied。 My questions upon this； and her replies； brought us back
to the Board Room so essential to the dignity of 〃the gentlemen；〃
where she showed me the printed accounts of the Charity hanging up
by the window。 From them I gathered that the greater part of the
property bequeathed by the Worshipful Master Richard Watts for the
maintenance of this foundation was； at the period of his death； mere
marsh…land； but that； in course of time； it had been reclaimed and
built upon； and was very considerably increased in value。 I found；
too； that about a thirtieth part of the annual revenue was now
expended on the purposes commemorated in the inscription over the
door； the rest being handsomely laid out in Chancery； law expenses；
collectorship； receivership； poundage； and other appendages of
management； highly complimentary to the importance of the six Poor
Travellers。 In short； I made the not entirely new discovery that it
may be said of an establishment like this； in dear old England； as
of the fat oyster in the American story； that it takes a good many
men to swallow it whole。
〃And pray； ma'am；〃 said I； sensible that the blankness of my face
began to brighten as the thought occurred to me； 〃could one see
these Travellers？〃
〃Well！〃 she returned dubiously； 〃no！〃
〃Not to…night； for instance！〃 said I。
〃Well！〃 she returned more positively； 〃no。 Nobody ever asked to see
them； and nobody ever did see them。〃
As I am not easily balked in a design when I am set upon it； I urged
to the good lady that this was Christmas…eve； that Christmas comes
but once a year；which is unhappily too true； for when it begins to
stay with us the whole year round we