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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
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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 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 steeple
quite 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
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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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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