Whocanbefamiliarwithanyrustichighwayinsummer-time，withoutstoringupknowledgeofthemanytrampswhogofromoneoasisoftownorvillagetoanother，tosellastockintrade，apparentlynotworthashillingwhensold？Shrimpsareafavouritecommodityforthiskindofspeculation，andsoarecakesofasoftandspongycharacter，coupledwithSpanishnutsandbrandyballs。Thestockiscarriedontheheadinabasket，and，betweentheheadandthebasket，arethetrestlesonwhichthestockisdisplayedattradingtimes。Fleetoffoot，butacarewornclassoftrampthis，mostly；
withacertainstiffnessofneck，occasionedbymuchanxiousbalancingofbaskets；andalsowithalong，Chinesesortofeye，whichanoverweightedforeheadwouldseemtohavesqueezedintothatform。
Onthehotdustyroadsnearseaporttownsandgreatrivers，beholdthetrampingSoldier。Andifyoushouldhappennevertohaveaskedyourselfwhetherhisuniformissuitedtohiswork，perhapsthepoorfellow’sappearanceashecomesdistressfullytowardsyou，withhisabsurdlytightjacketunbuttoned，hisneck-gearinhishand，andhislegswellchafedbyhistrousersofbaize，maysuggestthepersonalinquiry，howyouthinkYOUwouldlikeit。
MuchbetterthetrampingSailor，althoughhisclothissomewhattoothickforlandservice。But，whythetrampingmerchant-mateshouldputonablackvelvetwaistcoat，forachalkycountryinthedog-
days，isoneofthegreatsecretsofnaturethatwillneverbediscovered。
IhavemyeyeuponapieceofKentishroad，borderedoneithersidebyawood，andhavingononehand，betweentheroad-dustandthetrees，askirtingpatchofgrass。Wildflowersgrowinabundanceonthisspot，anditlieshighandairy，withadistantriverstealingsteadilyawaytotheocean，likeaman’slife。Togainthemilestonehere，whichthemoss，primroses，violets，blue-bells，andwildroses，wouldsoonrenderillegiblebutforpeeringtravellerspushingthemasidewiththeirsticks，youmustcomeupasteephill，comewhichwayyoumay。So，allthetrampswithcartsorcaravans-theGipsy-tramp，theShow-tramp，theCheapJack-
finditimpossibletoresistthetemptationsoftheplace，andallturnthehorseloosewhentheycometoit，andboilthepot。Blesstheplace，Ilovetheashesofthevagabondfiresthathavescorcheditsgrass！WhattrampchildrendoIseehere，attiredinahandfulofrags，makingagymnasiumoftheshaftsofthecart，makingafeather-bedoftheflintsandbrambles，makingatoyofthehobbledoldhorsewhoisnotmuchmorelikeahorsethananycheaptoywouldbe！Here，doIencounterthecartofmatsandbroomsandbaskets-withallthoughtsofbusinessgiventotheeveningwind-withthestewmadeandbeingservedout-withCheapJackandDearJillstrikingsoftmusicoutoftheplatesthatarerattledlikewarlikecymbalswhenputupforauctionatfairsandmarkets-theirmindssoinfluencednodoubtbythemelodyofthenightingalesastheybegintosinginthewoodsbehindthem，thatifIweretoproposetodeal，theywouldsellmeanythingatcostprice。Onthishallowedgroundhasitbeenmyhappyprivilegeletmewhisperit，tobeholdtheWhite-hairedLadywiththepinkeyes，eatingmeat-piewiththeGiant:while，bythehedge-side，ontheboxofblanketswhichIknewcontainedthesnakes，weresetforththecupsandsaucersandtheteapot。ItwasonaneveninginAugust，thatIchanceduponthisravishingspectacle，andInoticedthat，whereastheGiantreclinedhalfconcealedbeneaththeoverhangingboughsandseemedindifferenttoNature，thewhitehairofthegraciousLadystreamedfreeinthebreathofevening，andherpinkeyesfoundpleasureinthelandscape。Iheardonlyasinglesentenceofheruttering，yetitbespokeatalentformodestrepartee。Theill-manneredGiant-accursedbehisevilrace！-
hadinterruptedtheLadyinsomeremark，and，asIpassedthatenchantedcornerofthewood，shegentlyreprovedhim，withthewords，’Now，Cobby；’-Cobby！soshortaname！-’ain’tonefoolenoughtotalkatatime？’
Withinappropriatedistanceofthismagicground，thoughnotsonearitasthatthesongtrolledfromtaporbenchatdoor，caninvadeitswoodlandsilence，isalittlehostelrywhichnomanpossessedofapennywaseverknowntopassinwarmweather。
Beforeitsentrance，arecertainpleasant，trimmedlimes；likewise，acoolwell，withsomusicalabucket-handlethatitsfalluponthebucketrimwillmakeahorseprickuphisearsandneigh，uponthedroughtyroadhalfamileoff。Thisisahouseofgreatresortforhaymakingtrampsandharvesttramps，insomuchthatastheysitwithin，drinkingtheirmugsofbeer，theirrelinquishedscythesandreaping-hooksglareoutoftheopenwindows，asifthewholeestablishmentwereafamilywar-coachofAncientBritons。Laterintheseason，thewholecountry-side，formilesandmiles，willswarmwithhoppingtramps。Theycomeinfamilies，men，women，andchildren，everyfamilyprovidedwithabundleofbedding，anironpot，anumberofbabies，andtoooftenwithsomepoorsickcreaturequiteunfitfortheroughlife，forwhomtheysupposethesmellofthefreshhoptobeasovereignremedy。ManyofthesehoppersareIrish，butmanycomefromLondon。Theycrowdalltheroads，andcampunderallthehedgesandonallthescrapsofcommon-land，andliveamonganduponthehopsuntiltheyareallpicked，andthehop-gardens，sobeautifulthroughthesummer，lookasiftheyhadbeenlaidwastebyaninvadingarmy。Then，thereisavastexodusoftrampsoutofthecountry；andifyourideordriveroundanyturnofanyroad，atmorethanafootpace，youwillbebewilderedtofindthatyouhavechargedintothebosomoffiftyfamilies，andthattherearesplashingupallaroundyou，intheutmostprodigalityofconfusion，bundlesofbedding，babies，ironpots，andagood-humouredmultitudeofbothsexesandallages，equallydividedbetweenperspirationandintoxication。
ItlatelyhappenedthatIfoundmyselframblingaboutthescenesamongwhichmyearliestdayswerepassed；scenesfromwhichI
departedwhenIwasachild，andwhichIdidnotrevisituntilI
wasaman。Thisisnouncommonchance，butonethatbefallssomeofusanyday；perhapsitmaynotbequiteuninterestingtocomparenoteswiththereaderrespectinganexperiencesofamiliarandajourneysouncommercial。
Icallmyboyhood’shomeandIfeellikeaTenorinanEnglishOperawhenImentionitDullborough。MostofuscomefromDullboroughwhocomefromacountrytown。
AsIleftDullboroughinthedayswhentherewerenorailroadsintheland，Ileftitinastage-coach。Throughalltheyearsthathavesincepassed，haveIeverlostthesmellofthedampstrawinwhichIwaspacked-likegame-andforwarded，carriagepaid，totheCrossKeys，Wood-street，Cheapside，London？Therewasnootherinsidepassenger，andIconsumedmysandwichesinsolitudeanddreariness，anditrainedhardalltheway，andIthoughtlifesloppierthanIhadexpectedtofindit。
Withthistenderremembranceuponme，IwascavalierlyshuntedbackintoDullboroughtheotherday，bytrain。Mytickethadbeenpreviouslycollected，likemytaxes，andmyshiningnewportmanteauhadhadagreatplasterstuckuponit，andIhadbeendefiedbyActofParliamenttoofferanobjectiontoanythingthatwasdonetoit，orme，underapenaltyofnotlessthanfortyshillingsormorethanfivepounds，compoundableforatermofimprisonment。WhenI
hadsentmydisfiguredpropertyontothehotel，Ibegantolookaboutme；andthefirstdiscoveryImade，was，thattheStationhadswalloweduptheplaying-field。
Itwasgone。Thetwobeautifulhawthorn-trees，thehedge，theturf，andallthosebuttercupsanddaisies，hadgivenplacetothestoniestofjoltingroads:while，beyondtheStation，anuglydarkmonsterofatunnelkeptitsjawsopen，asifithadswallowedthemandwereravenousformoredestruction。Thecoachthathadcarriedmeaway，wasmelodiouslycalledTimpson’sBlue-EyedMaid，andbelongedtoTimpson，atthecoach-officeup-street；thelocomotiveenginethathadbroughtmeback，wascalledseverelyNo。97，andbelongedtoS。E。R。，andwasspittingashesandhotwaterovertheblightedground。
WhenIhadbeenletoutattheplatform-door，likeaprisonerwhomhisturnkeygrudginglyreleased，Ilookedinagainoverthelowwall，atthesceneofdepartedglories。Here，inthehaymakingtime，hadIbeendeliveredfromthedungeonsofSeringapatam，animmensepileofhaycock，bymyowncountrymen，thevictoriousBritishboynextdoorandhistwocousins，andhadbeenrecognisedwithecstasybymyaffiancedoneMissGreen，whohadcomeallthewayfromEnglandsecondhouseintheterracetoransomme，andmarryme。Here，hadIfirstheardinconfidence，fromonewhosefatherwasgreatlyconnected，beingunderGovernment，oftheexistenceofaterriblebanditti，called’TheRadicals，’whoseprincipleswere，thatthePrinceRegentworestays，andthatnobodyhadarighttoanysalary，andthatthearmyandnavyoughttobeputdown-horrorsatwhichItrembledinmybed，aftersupplicatingthattheRadicalsmightbespeedilytakenandhanged。Here，too，hadwe，thesmallboysofBoles’s，hadthatcricketmatchagainstthesmallboysofColes’s，whenBolesandColeshadactuallymetupontheground，andwhen，insteadofinstantlyhittingoutatoneanotherwiththeutmostfury，aswehadallhopedandexpected，thosesneakshadsaidrespectively，’I
hopeMrs。Bolesiswell，’and’IhopeMrs。Colesandthebabyaredoingcharmingly。’Coulditbethat，afterallthis，andmuchmore，thePlaying-fieldwasaStation，andNo。97expectoratedboilingwaterandredhotcindersonit，andthewholebelongedbyActofParliamenttoS。E。R。？
Asitcouldbe，andwas，Ilefttheplacewithaheavyheartforawalkalloverthetown。AndfirstofTimpson’sup-street。WhenI
departedfromDullboroughinthestrawyarmsofTimpson’sBlue-EyedMaid，Timpson’swasamoderate-sizedcoach-officeinfact，alittlecoach-office，withanovaltransparencyinthewindow，whichlookedbeautifulbynight，representingoneofTimpson’scoachesintheactofpassingamilestoneontheLondonroadwithgreatvelocity，completelyfullinsideandout，andallthepassengersdressedinthefirststyleoffashion，andenjoyingthemselvestremendously。IfoundnosuchplaceasTimpson’snow-
nosuchbricksandrafters，nottomentionthename-nosuchedificeontheteemingearth。PickfordhadcomeandknockedTimpson’sdown。PickfordhadnotonlyknockedTimpson’sdown，buthadknockedtwoorthreehousesdownoneachsideofTimpson’s，andthenhadknockedthewholeintoonegreatestablishmentwithapairofbiggates，inandoutofwhich，hisPickford’swaggonsare，inthesedays，alwaysrattling，withtheirdriverssittingupsohigh，thattheylookinatthesecond-floorwindowsoftheold-fashionedhousesintheHigh-streetastheyshakethetown。IhavenotthehonourofPickford’sacquaintance，butIfeltthathehaddonemeaninjury，nottosaycommittedanactofboyslaughter，inrunningovermyChildhoodinthisroughmanner；andifeverImeetPickforddrivingoneofhisownmonsters，andsmokingapipethewhilewhichisthecustomofhismen，heshallknowbytheexpressionofmyeye，ifitcatcheshis，thatthereissomethingwrongbetweenus。
Moreover，IfeltthatPickfordhadnorighttocomerushingintoDullboroughanddeprivethetownofapublicpicture。HeisnotNapoleonBonaparte。Whenhetookdownthetransparentstage-coach，heoughttohavegiventhetownatransparentvan。WithagloomyconvictionthatPickfordiswhollyutilitarianandunimaginative，I
proceededonmyway。