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to the little galleries at the back。 I found them on a tiny scale；
like the galleries in old inn…yards； and they were very clean。
While I was looking at them； the matron gave me to understand that
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 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 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