V 



EPISODE OF THE CONTENTED TAILOR 



Not a hundred yards out of a certain village I came 

 across a little man dressed in grey. We were alone 

 on the road, we were going in the same direction, and 

 I came to learn that he travelled with as little purpose 

 as I. 



As soon as I saw his face, his jaunty walk, his knap- 

 sack and his stick, I knew him for a friend. 



I hailed him. He stopped, smiled pleasantly, and 

 fell in with my stride. We soon found a mutual bond 

 of esteem. It appeared we were out in search of ad- 

 ventures. 



He explained to me, quite simply, that he was not 

 going anywhere, and that he proposed to be some four 

 months about it. 



" Just walking about looking at things," he volun- 

 teered. 



" That is my case," I replied. 



" I'm a tailor, sir," said he. 



" Having a look at the cut of the country ? " 



He gave a little friendly nod. 



" And do you tailor as you go along ? " I asked, for 

 I had never met a travelling tailor before : tinkers 

 galore ; haberdashers aplenty ; patent medicine men 

 a few ; sailors ; old soldiers (the worst) ; apothecaries 

 I have mentioned ; gentlemen, many ; ploughboys, 

 purse thieves, one or two, and ugly customers — 



27 



