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raised the pitcher to my lips。
The tinker； for such I supposed him to be； without altering his
posture； raised his eyes； looked at me for a moment； gave a slight
nod； and then once more fixed his eyes upon the table。 I took a
draught of the ale； which I found excellent； 'Won't you drink？'
said I； holding the pitcher to the tinker。
The man again lifted up his eyes； looked at me； and then at the
pitcher； and then at me again。 I thought at one time that he was
about to shake his head in sign of refusal； but no； he looked once
more at the pitcher； and the temptation was too strong。 Slowly
removing his head from his arms； he took the pitcher； sighed；
nodded； and drank a tolerable quantity； and then set the pitcher
down before me upon the table。
'You had better mend your draught；' said I to the tinker； 'it is a
sad heart that never rejoices。'
'That's true；' said the tinker； and again raising the pitcher to
his lips； he mended his draught as I had bidden him； drinking a
larger quantity than before。
'Pass it to your wife；' said I。
The poor woman took the pitcher from the man's hand； before；
however； raising it to her lips； she looked at the children。 True
mother's heart； thought I to myself； and taking the half…pint mug；
I made her fill it； and then held it to the children； causing each
to take a draught。 The woman wiped her eyes with the corner of her
gown； before she raised the pitcher and drank to my health。
In about five minutes none of the family looked half so
disconsolate as before； and the tinker and I were in deep
discourse。
Oh； genial and gladdening is the power of good ale； the true and
proper drink of Englishmen。 He is not deserving of the name of
Englishman who speaketh against ale； that is good ale； like that
which has just made merry the hearts of this poor family； and yet
there are beings； calling themselves Englishmen； who say that it is
a sin to drink a cup of ale； and who； on coming to this passage
will be tempted to fling down the book and exclaim； 'The man is
evidently a bad man； for behold； by his own confession； he is not
only fond of ale himself； but is in the habit of tempting other
people with it。' Alas！ alas！ what a number of silly individuals
there are in this world； I wonder what they would have had me do in
this instance … given the afflicted family a cup of cold water？ go
to！ They could have found water in the road； for there was a
pellucid spring only a few yards distant from the house； as they
were well aware … but they wanted not water； what should I have
given them？ meat and bread？ go to！ They were not hungry； there was
stifled sobbing in their bosoms； and the first mouthful of strong
meat would have choked them。 What should I have given them？
Money！ what right had I to insult them by offering them money？
Advice！ words； words； words； friends； there is a time for
everything； there is a time for a cup of cold water； there is a
time for strong meat and bread； there is a time for advice； and
there is a time for ale； and I have generally found that the time
for advice is after a cup of ale。 I do not say many cups； the
tongue then speaketh more smoothly； and the ear listeneth more
benignantly； but why do I attempt to reason with you？ do I not know
you for conceited creatures； with one idea … and that a foolish
one； … a crotchet； for the sake of which ye would sacrifice
anything； religion if required … country？ There； fling down my
book； I do not wish ye to walk any farther in my company； unless
you cast your nonsense away； which ye will never do； for it is the
breath of your nostrils； fling down my book； it was not written to
support a crotchet； for know one thing； my good people； I have
invariably been an enemy to humbug。
'Well；' said the tinker； after we had discoursed some time； 'little
thought； when I first saw you； that you were of my own trade。'
MYSELF。 Nor am I； at least not exactly。 There is not much
difference； 'tis true； between a tinker and a smith。
TINKER。 You are a whitesmith then？
MYSELF。 Not I； I'd scorn to be anything so mean； no； friend；
black's the colour； I am a brother of the horse…shoe。 Success to
the hammer and tongs。
TINKER。 Well； I shouldn't have thought you had been a blacksmith
by your hands。
MYSELF。 I have seen them； however； as black as yours。 The truth
is； I have not worked for many a day。
TINKER。 Where did you serve first？
MYSELF。 In Ireland。
TINKER。 That's a good way off； isn't it？
MYSELF。 Not very far； over those mountains to the left； and the
run of salt water that lies behind them； there's Ireland。
TINKER。 It's a fine thing to be a scholar。
MYSELF。 Not half so fine as to be a tinker。
TINKER。 How you talk！
MYSELF。 Nothing but the truth； what can be better than to be one's
own master？ Now a tinker is his own master； a scholar is not。 Let
us suppose the best of scholars； a schoolmaster for example； for I
suppose you will admit that no one can be higher in scholarship
than a schoolmaster； do you call his a pleasant life？ I don't； we
should call him a school…slave； rather than a schoolmaster。 Only
conceive him in blessed weather like this； in his close school；
teaching children to write in copy…books； 'Evil communication
corrupts good manners；' or 'You cannot touch pitch without
defilement；' or to spell out of Abedariums； or to read out of Jack
Smith； or Sandford and Merton。 Only conceive him； I say； drudging
in such guise from morning till night； without any rational
enjoyment but to beat the children。 Would you compare such a dog's
life as that with your own … the happiest under heaven … true Eden
life； as the Germans would say； … pitching your tent under the
pleasant hedgerows； listening to the song of the feathered tribes；
collecting all the leaky kettles in the neighbourhood； soldering
and joining； earning your honest bread by the wholesome sweat of
your brow … making ten holes … hey； what's this？ what's the man
crying for？
Suddenly the tinker had covered his face with his hands； and begun
to sob and moan like a man in the deepest distress； the breast of
his wife was heaved with emotion； even the children were agitated；
the youngest began to roar。
MYSELF。 What's the matter with you； what are you all crying about？
TINKER （uncovering his face）。 Lord； why to hear you talk； isn't
that enough to make anybody cry … even the poor babes？ Yes； you
said right； 'tis life in the garden of Eden … the tinker's； I see
so now that I'm about to give it up。
MYSELF。 Give it up！ you must not think of such a thing。
TINKER。 No； I can't bear to think of it； and yet I must； what's to
be done？ How hard to be frightened to death； to be driven off the
roads。
MYSELF。 Who has driven you off the roads？
TINKER。 Who！ the Fl