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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 Flaming Tinman。
MYSELF。 Who is he？
TINKER。 The biggest rogue in England； and the cruellest； or he
wouldn't have served me as he has done … I'll tell you all about
it。 I was born upon the roads； and so was my father before me； and
my mother too； and I worked with them as long as they lived； as a
dutiful child； for I have nothing to reproach myself with on their
account； and when my father died I took up the business； and went
his beat； and supported my mother for the little time she lived；
and when she died I married this young woman； who was not born upon
the roads； but was a small tradesman s daughter； at Gloster。 She
had a kindness for me； and； notwithstanding her friends were
against the match； she married the poor tinker； and came to live
with him upon the roads。 Well； young man； for six or seven years I
… as the happiest fellow breathing； living just the life you
described just now … respected by everybody in this beat； when in
an evil hour comes this Black Jack； this flaming tinman； into these
parts； driven as they say out of Yorkshire … for no good you may be
sure。 Now there is no beat will support two tinkers； as you
doubtless know； mine was a good one； but it would not support the
flying tinker and myself； though if it would have supported twenty
it would have been all the same to the flying villain； who'll brook
no one but himself； so he presently finds me out； and offers to
fight me for the beat。 Now； being bred upon the roads； I can fight
a little； that is with anything like my match； but I was not going
to fight him； who happens to be twice my size； and so I told him；
whereupon he knocks me down； and would have done me farther
mischief had not some men been nigh and prevented him； so he
threatened to cut my throat； and went his way。 Well； I did not
like such usage at all； and was woundily frightened； and tried to
keep as much out of his way as possible； going anywhere but where I
thought I was likely to meet him； and sure enough for several
months I contrived to keep out of his way。 At last somebody told
me that he was gone back to Yorkshire； whereupon I was glad at
heart； and ventured to show myself； going here and there as I did
before。 Well； young man； it was yesterday that I and mine set
ourselves down in a lane； about five miles from here； and lighted
our fire； and had our dinner； and after dinner I sat down to mend
three kettles and a frying pan which the people in the
neighbourhood had given me to mend … for； as I told you before； I
have a good connection； owing to my honesty。 Well； as I sat there
hard at work； happy as the day's long； and thinking of anything but
what was to happen； who should come up but this Black Jack； this
king of the tinkers； rattling along in his cart； with his wife；
that they call Grey Moll； by his side … for the villain has got a
wife； and a maid…servant too； the last I never saw； but they that
has； says that she is as big as a house； and young； and well to
look at； which can't be all said of Moll； who； though she's big
enough in all conscience； is neither young nor handsome。 Well； no
sooner does he see me and mine； than； giving the reins to Grey
Moll； he springs out of his cart； and comes straight at me； not a
word did he say； but on he comes straight at me like a wild bull。
I am a quiet man； young fellow； but I saw now that quietness would
be of no use； so I sprang up upon my legs； and being bred upon the
roads； and able to fight a little； I squared as he came running in
upon me； and had a round or two with him。 Lord bless you； young
man； it was like a fly fighting with an elephant … one of those big
beasts the show…folks carry about。 I had not a chance with the
fellow； he knocked me here； he knocked me there； knocked me into
the hedge； and knocked me out again。 I was at my last shifts； and
my poor wife saw it。 Now my poor wife； though she is as gentle as
a pigeon； has yet a spirit of her own； and though she wasn't bred
upon the roads； can scratch a little； so when she saw me at my last
shifts； she flew at the villain … she couldn't bear to see her
partner murdered … and scratched the villain's face。 Lord bless
you； young man； she had better have been quiet： Grey Moll no
sooner saw what she was about； than； springing out of the cart；
where she had sat all along perfectly quiet； save a little whooping
and screeching to encourage her blade：… Grey Moll； I say （my flesh
creeps when I think of it … for I am a kind husband； and love my
poor wife） 。 。 。
MYSELF。 Take another draught of the ale； you look frightened； and
it will do you good。 Stout liquor makes stout heart； as the man
says in the play。
TINKER。 That's true； young man； here's to you … where was I？ Grey
Moll no sooner saw what my wife was about； than； springing out of
the cart； she flew at my poor wife； clawed off her bonnet in a
moment； and seized hold of her hair。 Lord bless you； young man； my
poor wife； in the hands of Grey Moll； was nothing better than a
pigeon in the claws of a buzzard hawk； or I in the hands of the
Flaming Tinman； which when I saw； my heart was fit to burst； and I
determined to give up everything … everything to save my poor wife
out of Grey Moll's claws。 'Hold！' I shouted。 'Hold； both of you …
Jack； Moll。 Hold； both of you； for God's sake； and I'll do what
you will： give up trade； and business； connection； bread； and
everything； never more travel the roads； and go down on my knees to
you in the bargain。' Well； this had some effect； Moll let go my
wife； and the Blazing Tinman stopped for a moment； it was only for
a moment； however； that he left off … all of a sudden he hit me a
blow which sent me against a tree； and what did the villain then？
why the flying villain seized me by the throat； and almost
throttled me； roaring … what do you think； young man； that the
flaming villain roared out？
MYSELF。 I really don't know … something horrible； I suppose。
TINKER。 Horrible； indeed； you may well say horrible； young man；
neither more nor less than the Bible … 'A Bible； a Bible！' roared
the Blazing Tinman； and he pressed my throat so hard against the
tree that my senses began to dwaul away … a Bible； a Bible； still
ringing in my ears。 Now； young man； my poor wife is a Christian
woman； and； though she travels the roads； carries a Bible with her
at the bottom of her sack； with which sometimes she teaches the
children to read … it was the only thing she brought with her from
the place of her kith and kin； save her own body and the clothes on
her back； so my poor wife； half distracted； runs to her sack； pulls
out the Bible； and puts it into the hand of the Blazing Tinman； who
then thrusts the end of it into my mouth with such fury that it
made my lips bleed； and broke short one of