Remembrances of Leicester - Reminiscences

He was the dearest old Grandad (5) any boy could wish for. I see him now in his old armchair, sitting erect in spite of his advanced years - he was nearing eighty - and although he had that day walked many a mile with his two leather bags slung over his back. Perched on either arm of the chair would be a little grandchild happily munching the spoils resulting from a raid on his big pockets - and there was always something worth playing "highwayman" for.

They were not too busy to listen to his relation of the adventures of the day - bottles of embrocation he had sold at various farms - rabbits and deer he had seen in the park of some great landowner, or the squirrels springing from bough to bough of the giant trees - the "lift" the mail driver had kindly given him - stories of poachers he had gleaned from the keepers - the strange characters he had met on the road. A breathless gallop of "ride-a-cock-horse" on his swinging leg brought visions of hunting over field and fence in chase of Master Fox who was always sure to earth amid screams of happy laughter.

He had the most cuddlesome arms a child has ever nestled in - and it was a great delight to snuggle there until the voices grew fainter and we sailed away to the land of dreams. Up with the dawn, Grandad went the round of the beds with a caress for each sleeping child, every one of whom in their infancy he had nursed for "Annie" (6) their mother, whose family cares had come thick and fast. Then away he would go on his round in the country he loved so well, whilst the old town was still asleep.

Grandad went to Church on Sunday mornings. We children were sent to Chapel nearer home. But on occasions one of us would be favoured by being allowed to go with Grandad. He was not a "religious" man. That is to say his religion was not a matter for public parade. He had his fits of waywardness, especially when his habitual good fellowship led him to overstep the mark of prudence in his cups. But there was an element of reverence for holy things in his heart that was beautiful in its quiet manifestation, and many a poor body knew the genuineness of Grandad's devotion to the Man of Galilee, for he was a modern Good Samaritan every

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