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the children came to look at us； and the tailor； and the general
dealer； and the farmer who had been giving a small order at the
little saddler's； and the groom from the great house； and the
publican； and even the two skittle…players （and here note that；
howsoever busy all the rest of village human…kind may be； there
will always be two people with leisure to play at skittles；
wherever village skittles are）； what encouragement would be on us
to plait and weave！ No one looks at us while we plait and weave
these words。 Clock…mending again。 Except for the slight
inconvenience of carrying a clock under our arm； and the monotony
of making the bell go； whenever we came to a human habitation； what
a pleasant privilege to give a voice to the dumb cottage…clock； and
set it talking to the cottage family again！ Likewise we foresee
great interest in going round by the park plantations； under the
overhanging boughs （hares； rabbits； partridges； and pheasants；
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 Gia