First we goes down a long gravel path where the santhemums was a hanging their heads, and seeming as if they was a crying; but then all the trees I could see in the dim light was covered with tears. Then Crusp leads off across a flower garding like, all covered with graves and stones; and somehow, stumbling along in a big old box coat, I manages to fall right over one of em; but when I pulled myself together agen, and gets up to the gatekeeper, I finds him standing aside my reglar fare, who was lying down there in the wet grass with his cheek agin a grave, and one arm stretched right over it: while in tother was a long lock of dark hair. His hat had rolled off, and his own long white hair lay loose among the dead flowers and damp grass; and turning all of a tremble, I stoops down beside him, and Crusp whispers, so quiet and solemn, Hes gone to her!
For a moment or two I couldnt
believe it, for there in the dusk it seemed as though he was only crying over the restin-place of his poor child. I didnt like to speak, for it all seemed so strange and solemn: there was the drip drip drip from the trees, and now and then a sad mournful sort of sigh as the wind swept by; and I dont know how it was, but sad times seemed to come up again and take hold of a fellows heart; so that dim as it all was before, it turned worse, till one could hardly see at all, and though the rain came slowly down, it seemed right and nateral to take off ones hat; and we both did, and then stole away on tiptoe to fetch more help.
That allus comes back in the autumn time, when the leaves are falling, and the rain drips slowly down; and then, feeling quite melancholy-like, I can see again as plain as can be that fine old man restin his head upon the grave, with his silver hair all spread out upon the grass, and him taking his rest from his troubles.
Here we are, sir, Tannic Gardings; and, if its all the same to you, Ill just give that old oss a feed and a rub down, while you and the ladies look through the greenouses. Eases his jints a bit, yer see, and they runs werry stiff sometimes.
Chapter Seven. J. Weltus
Here I am, yer see; allus at home airy spot; good light, and never no sun; pleasant prospect o four foot in front, none to the right, and chock down into Fleet-street on the left. What more would you have? Every convenience for carrying on a large and lucrative trade without moving from yer seat. Heres ones stool, and, altogether, close to ones hand, everything as a artis in leather work could want. Now see here: paste? there you are; stuffin? there you are; tub for soakin? there you are; and so on with every think whether its lapstone, foot, hemp, ball, wax, bristles, dubbin, grease, or ink. Theres ones knives and stone all in a row; theres ones divisions with all ones nails and pegs brass, iron, and wood; theres ones hammers; and there, what more would you have for soleing and heeling a boot or a shoe right off without leaving yer seat? And all done in a regular business way, yer know; none o yer new-fangled rivet and clinch and sewing-machine rubbish; but straightforward laid-in stitches, put in with a sharp awl and a fine pair of ends, laid into and drawn tight with plenty of elbow grease, and the sole stoned and hammered as solid as a board, and more too.
Rivets indeed! Why, how can a boot be decent as is nailed together just as a chip would make a box? Taint natural, no more nor gutta-percha was, nor india-rubber was. Course I had to take to gutta-percha soles, as it was the fashun, else yer lose yer trade; but there you were, sticking the things on with a lot o grease tar stuff, and then as soon as they got warm, off they comes again, and serve em right too for not being sewed, and then touched round the wearing Darts with a few rows o sprigs neatly put in, or a facing o sparrables.
And heres yer everlasting soles and yer machinery and clat! Dont tell me: why, they cant answer any more than indy-rubber goloshes can, as raises your corns, an draws yer feet, an makes a man miserable, as of course every one is as aint got a decent shoe to his foot. Its all very fine having yer new fangles, and one introdoosing cork, and another iron, and another copper and copper toes. You may have yer grand warerusses over Southwark way; but my pinion is as it must come down to us at last, as only stands to reason.
Now here you are; youve bought yer pair o ready-mades and worn em a bit, and then where are you? why, a-looking out for J. Weltus, shoemaker, repairs neatly executed as it says on the board over the stall, as cost me a soleing and heeling for a painter chap outer work as did it for me, and put no dryers in his colour, so as the boys give it that pitted-with-the-small-pox look by aimin at it with their popguns. Well, you looks for J. Weltus, and finds him sittin in his stall in the court, and shows him whats up, and very naterally he laughs at yer, as he does at all as runs away from your fine old conservative wax-end and leather, for your improved, reform, upright bench, and machine-made understandings.