Of the Stabülers, or Bread Gatherers.Of the Stabülers, or Bread Gatherers.
Of the Stabülers, or Bread Gatherers.
The next chapter is about theStabülers. These are vagrants who tramp through the country from one Saint to another, their wives (KRÖNERIN) and children (GATZAM) going (ALCHEN) with them. Their hats (WETTERHAN) and cloaks (WINTFANG) hang full of signs of all the saints,—the cloak (wintfang) being made (VETZEN) out of a hundred pieces. They go toPg 10the peasants who give them bread (LEHEM DIPPEN); and each of theseStabülershas six or seven sacks, and carries a pot, plate, spoon, flask, and whatever else is needed for the journey with him. These sameStabülersnever leave off begging, nor do their children, from their infancy to the day of their death—for the beggar’s staff keeps the fingers (GRIFFLING) warm—and they neither will nor can work, and their children (GATZAM) grow up to be harlots and harlotmongers (GLIDENundGLIDESVETZER), hangmen and flayers (ZWICKMENundKAVELLER). Also, whithersoever theseStabülerscome, in town or country, they beg; at one house for God’s sake, at another for St. Valentine’s sake, at a third for St. Kürine’s,sic de aliis, according to the disposition of the people from whom they seek alms. For they do not adhere to one patron or trust to one method alone.
Conclusio: Thou mayest give to them if thou wilt, for they are half bad and half good,—not all bad, but most part.