The Autobiography of a Super Tramp 34

The Autobiography of a Super Tramp 34

CHAPTER XXIX

 

A DAY'S COMPANION

 

 

I had many a strange experience in those days, especially one with an

old man, who must have been between seventy and eighty years of age.

He accosted me through the hedges and, looking in that direction, I

saw him in the act of filling a quart can with blackberries, aided by

a thick long stick with a crooked end. "Wait a moment," said he, "for

I also am going Bedford way." I was nothing loth to wait, for I was a

stranger in that part of the country, and required information as to

which was the best cheap lodging house for the night. I knew that in a

town of the size of Bedford there must be more than one common lodging

house, and one must be better than another, if only in the extra smile

of a landlady, regardless of clean blankets or cooking accommodation.

 

For this reason I waited, and, in less than three minutes, the old man

joined me. His answer to my first question was disappointing, for it

seemed that the number of lodging houses which Bedford could boast

were all public houses, and there was not one private house that

catered for beggars. This was a real disappointment, for I knew that

whosoever made tea at such a place, did so under the ill favoured

glance of a landlady or landlord, perhaps both, who sold beer ready

made. In fact the facilities for making tea, cooking, or even washing

one's shirt, were extremely limited at such a place, which made it

very undesirable for a poor beggar like myself, who had great

difficulty in begging sufficient for his bed and board, and did not

wish to be reminded of beer.

 

"Surely," I said, "there must be in a town the size of Bedford one

private lodging house, at least, to accommodate tramps."

 

"Well," said he, "as a tramp I have been going in and out of that town

for over thirty years, and I never heard of such a place. You can make

enquiries, and I should like to know different," he continued, rather

sarcastically that I had doubted his knowledge. "The two best houses

are the 'Boot' and the 'Cock,' but seeing that the former takes in

women, the latter I think would be the best for us. Are you going to

do business on the road?" he enquired. "Not to-day," I answered him,

"for I have enough for my bed, and an extra few coppers for food."

"All right," said he, "we will travel together, and if I do a little

business on the way it won't interfere with you, and we have plenty of

time to reach the lodging house before dark." Having no objection to

this proposal we jogged pleasantly along.

 

We were now descending a steep incline and my companion, seeing a man

coming in the opposite direction, walking beside a bicycle, lost no

time in confronting that gentleman and pushing the blackberries under

his nose. "No," said the man, gruffly, "do you think I am going to

carry those things? but here's a copper for you." Well, thought I,

this man will never sell his berries if he does not show more

discretion and offer them to more likely customers.

 

Just after this we met a lady and gentleman, both well dressed and

apparently well to do. Touching his cap to these people my companion

soon had his blackberries within a few inches of their eyes, at the

same time using all his persuasive powers to induce them to make a

purchase. In this he failed, as was to be expected, but continued to

walk step by step with them for several yards, until the gentleman

hastily put his hand in his pocket and gave the old fellow sixpence,

the smallest change that he had.

 

Several others were stopped after this, and although my fellow

traveller failed to sell his perishable goods, a number of people

assisted him with coppers. In one instance I thought he surely could

not be of sound mind, for he had seen a party of ladies and gentlemen

seating themselves in a motor car, and was hurrying with all speed in

that direction. In this case he failed at getting a hearing, for

before he was half way towards them, the party had seated themselves

and the car was moving rapidly away. My companion's lips trembled with

vexation at seeing this.

 

"Wait a moment," said he, crossing the road to a baker's shop--"I am

going to exchange these berries for buns." Waiting outside I was soon

joined again by this strange old fellow who then carried in his left

hand four buns, his right hand still being in possession of the

blackberries.

 

"You will never sell them," I said, "if you do not offer them at more

likely places. See, there is a shop with fruit and vegetables: try

there." "Why," he answered with a grin, "how do you think I could make

a living if I sold them? The market value of these berries is about

one farthing, and it takes sixteen farthings to pay for my feather

(bed) not reckoning scrand (food), and a glass or two of skimish

(drink). In fact," said he, "my day's work is done, and I am quite

satisfied with the result." Saying which he tumbled the blackberries

into the gutter and placed the can--which he used for making tea--into

a large self-made inside pocket. On getting a better view of them, I

remarked that no person could buy such berries, for they were about

the worst assortment I had ever seen in my life. "It would not pay to

make them very enticing," said he, "or they would find a too ready

sale." "But what do you do when the season is over?" I asked, "for you

cannot pick blackberries all the year round." "Oh," he answered, "I

have other ways of making a living. If I can get a good audience in a

public house, I can often make a day's living in a quarter of an hour,

with several drinks in the bargain." "What, by singing or dancing?" I

asked. "No," said he, "but by reciting. Listen to this." With that he

began to recite a long poem, line after line, until I began to hope

his memory would fail him. What a memory it was! Hundreds of lines

without a break. When he came to the most dramatic parts he paused for

action, and I knew that he was heedless of the approach of night, and

had forgotten that Bedford was still afar off. There was now no

stopping of him; poem after poem he recited, and he introduced his

subjects with little speeches that were so different from his ordinary

conversation, that it was apparent that he had committed them also to

memory for the benefit of a fit audience. If he was so zealous after a

weary day's walk, and without stimulants, what would he be under the

influence of several glasses of strong ale? I shuddered to think of

it.

 

We were now about a mile from Bedford, and my companion had for the

last hour been reciting; as for myself I was travelling alone, for I

had forgotten him. Sometimes to my confusion he would startle me by a

sudden question, but seeing that he made no pause for an answer, I

soon understood that no answer was required of me, for that he was

still reciting.

 

As we entered the outskirts of Bedford, my companion found it

necessary, owing to increase of traffic, to raise his voice, which he

continued to do until at last the traffic became so very great that he

could not make himself heard. I had not heard his voice for the last

five minutes, when he suddenly clutched my shoulder and demanded what

I thought of that. "You have a wonderful memory," I said. "Oh," said

he, "that is nothing; I could entertain you for several days in like

manner, with fresh matter each day. Here we are at the 'Cock.' I like

your company and, if you are travelling my way to-morrow, let us go

together. It is not every man that I would travel with two days in

succession." And, thought I, it is not every man would travel in your

company two days in succession. "Which way are you going?" I asked

him. "Towards Northampton," said he. "Alas," I answered, "my direction

is altogether different."

 

We now entered the "Cock," and after calling for two glasses of ale,

enquired as to accommodation for travellers, which we were informed

was good, there being plenty of room. Sometimes, if ale is not called

for, they are disinclined to letting beds, especially in the winter,

when they find so little difficulty in filling the house.

 

On entering the kitchen we found it occupied by a number of men, some

of whom recognised my fellow traveller, and spoke to him. But, strange

to say, although this man had proved so garrulous with one for a

companion, with the many he had very little to say, and sat in a

corner all through the evening smoking in silence, and paying no heed

to others either by tongue, eye, or ear. Once or twice I saw his lips

move, when filling his pipe, or knocking out its ashes, and I thought

that he was perhaps rehearsing and training his memory for the

following day, in case he would be again fortunate in picking up with

an easy fool like myself. For, no doubt, the poor old fellow had been

often commanded to desist from reciting, and ordered to hell by

impatient and unsympathetic men whom he had at first mistaken for

quiet and good natured companions. I had not by a look or a word

sought to offend him, but one day of his company was certainly

enough.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER XXX

 

THE FORTUNE

 

 

It is not unusual to read of cases where men who have descended to the

lowest forms of labour--aye, even become tramps--being sought and

found as heirs to fortunes, left often by people who either had no

power to will otherwise, or whom death had taken unawares. Therefore,

when one fine morning a cab drove up to a beer-house, which was also a

tramps' lodging house, and a well dressed gentleman entered and

enquired of the landlord for a man named James Macquire--the landlord

at once pronounced him to be a solicitor in quest of a lost heir.

"Sir," said he, "we do not take the names of our lodgers, but several

are now in the kitchen. James Macquire, you said?" On receiving answer

in the affirmative the landlord at once visited the lodgers' kitchen,

and standing at the door enquired in a very respectable manner if

there was any gentleman present by the name of Macquire, whose

christian name was James. At which a delicate looking man, who had

arrived the previous night, sprang quickly to his feet and said in a

surprised voice--"That is my name." "Well," said the landlord, "a

gentleman wishes to see you at once; he came here in a cab, and, for

your sake, I trust my surmises are right."

 

With the exception of having on a good clean white shirt, the man

Macquire was ill clad, and he looked ruefully at his clothes, and then

at the landlord. "Please ask the gentleman to wait," said he, and,

going to the tap, began to wash his hands and face, after which he

carefully combed his hair.

 

The strange gentleman was seated quietly in the bar when the man

Macquire presented himself, and the landlord was engaged in washing

glasses and dusting decanters. "Mr. James Macquire?" asked the

gentleman, rising and addressing the ill-clad one in a respectful

manner, which the landlord could not help but notice. "That is my

name," answered Macquire, with some dignity. "Do you know anything of

Mr. Frederick Macquire, of Doggery Hall?" asked the gentleman. "I do,"

said the ill-clad one; and, after a long pause, and seeming to give

the information with much reluctance, he added--"Mr. Frederick

Macquire, of Doggery Hall, is my uncle." Several other questions were

asked and answered. "That will do, thank you," said the gentleman;

"will you please call at the 'King's Head' and see me at seven P. M.?

You have been advertised for since the death of Mr. Frederick

Macquire, some weeks ago. Good morning," he said, shaking James

Macquire by the hand in a highly respectful manner, as the landlord

could not fail to see, totally regardless of the man's rags.

 

The ill-clad one stood at the bar speechless, apparently absorbed in

deep thought. "What will you have to drink?" asked the landlord

kindly. "Whisky," answered Macquire, in a faint voice. After drinking

this, and another, he seemed to recover his composure, and said to the

landlord--"I am at present, as you must know, penniless, and you would

greatly oblige me by the loan of a few shillings, say half a sovereign

until I draw a couple of hundred pounds in advance. Whatever I receive

from you, you shall have a receipt, and, although nothing is said

about interest, the amount owing will be doubled, aye trebled, you may

rest assured of that, for I never forget a kindness." "You had better

take a sovereign," said the landlord, "and, of course, the Mrs. will

supply any meals you may need, and drink is at your disposal." "Thank

you," said Macquire, in a choking voice--"let me have a couple of pots of your best ale for the poor fellows in the kitchen."