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stay with us the whole year round we shall make this earth a very
different place； that I was possessed by the desire to treat the
Travellers to a supper and a temperate glass of hot Wassail； that
the voice of Fame had been heard in that land； declaring my ability
to make hot Wassail； that if I were permitted to hold the feast； I
should be found conformable to reason； sobriety； and good hours； in
a word； that I could be merry and wise myself； and had been even
known at a pinch to keep others so； although I was decorated with no
badge or medal； and was not a Brother； Orator； Apostle； Saint； or
Prophet of any denomination whatever。 In the end I prevailed； to my
great joy。 It was settled that at nine o'clock that night a Turkey
and a piece of Roast Beef should smoke upon the board； and that I；
faint and unworthy minister for once of Master Richard Watts； should
preside as the Christmas…supper host of the six Poor Travellers。
I went back to my inn to give the necessary directions for the
Turkey and Roast Beef； and； during the remainder of the day； could
settle to nothing for thinking of the Poor Travellers。 When the
wind blew hard against the windows；it was a cold day； with dark
gusts of sleet alternating with periods of wild brightness； as if
the year were dying fitfully；I pictured them advancing towards
their resting…place along various cold roads； and felt delighted to
think how little they foresaw the supper that awaited them。 I
painted their portraits in my mind； and indulged in little
heightening touches。 I made them footsore； I made them weary； I
made them carry packs and bundles； I made them stop by finger…posts
and milestones； leaning on their bent sticks； and looking wistfully
at what was written there； I made them lose their way； and filled
their five wits with apprehensions of lying out all night； and being
frozen to death。 I took up my hat； and went out； climbed to the top
of the Old Castle； and looked over the windy hills that slope down
to the Medway； almost believing that I could descry some of my
Travellers in the distance。 After it fell dark； and the Cathedral
bell was heard in the invisible steeplequite a bower of frosty
rime when I had last seen itstriking five； six； seven； I became so
full of my Travellers that I could eat no dinner； and felt
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 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。
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 Horner？
However； as I declined； Ben； whose touch on all convivial
instruments is perfect； drew the table apart； and instructing my
Travellers to open right and left on either side of me； and form
round the fire； closed up the centre with myself and my chair； and
preserved the order we had kept at table。 He had already； in a
tranquil manner； boxed the ears of the inattentive boys until they
had been by imperceptible degrees boxed out of the room； and he now
rapidly skirmished the sauce…female into the High Street；
disappeared； and softly closed the door。
This was the time for bringing the poker to bear on the billet of
wood。 I tapped it three times； like an enchanted talisman； and a
brilliant host of merry…makers burst out of it； and sported off by
the chimney；rushing up the middle in a fiery country dance； and
never coming down again。 Meanwhile； by their sparkling light； which
threw our lamp into the shade； I filled the glasses； and gave my
Tra