The morning times., 1896-11-15
WAKES FOLKS UP.
Good Incomes From a Very Funny
Little Business.

L
1t isn't every boy who can earn four
shiilings week and yet have each and
every day free to play in or to attend
| school.
Robert is IN business now. He gives
me ms nioney every Saturday night" says
| Roberts mother. proudly
| Indeed. What line are youin?" Didn't
| see you over on The rink win the other
| observation-disclosures" Robert is asked
I'm a knocker-up," he answers. "Old
Mr.. Woods was the knocker-up all this time,
but he's sickly body and so bad with the
rheumatic that lie was glad To get rid of
the Job. hand him over sixpence each
week for the goodwill
| 1t WAS N a Lancashire village that this
conversation tnnk place In Il quaint COM
Try village, called Walton lie Dale. nested
| among 1neshiil> near Preston. there are
big cotton mills al little distance and, Look
| Ing from the window the next morning, The
| lodSerfrom overthe sea secs Robert engaged
| at his task. II is but little after 4 o'clock
and the sun does not dream OF getting IN
yet, but the sleepers in the long rows of
red brick cottages must prepare for work.
Rap! tap! rat; tap, rat, tap!" sounds
| the metal knocker ON the door of the end
cottage in the row. Time to get upr,
calls Robert, Justify, when there is no an.
swering sound within. Then he steps down
| Off or the little steps -doorsteps and fac.
| lngs as clean as constant scrubbing can
| make them and his clogs click sharply on
| the pavement as he goes to the next cot
tage.
Rat! tap! tap-i-ti-tap, tap, tapr' he
KNOCKS, contriving variations in the tune
All right!" shouts n CHEEKY voice inside,
| and an upper window opens and girls
| tonsled head appears. Kinder late this
mornin' ,Minna; ;betterhurry!" leases Robert,
looking up. Then he goes his way, rapping
insistently on the black Knockers some
Times supplementing his summons with
words when occasion demands. Presently
| ne has made the tour of that row of
homes and goes into the street behind to
| waken the slumberers there. 1t is getting
httle lighter then, and the growing day-
| light helps him with his work. In all. he
is not absent more than an hour attending
to business"
'The sedleys sleep like logs. 1 have
always 10 knock them up second time
| after / finish my rounds," he tells. as he
eats MS morning porridge. People are
SO different. The McFinns spring out of
bed almost before my hand is off the
| knocker.''
| ''D" you like the business?" the lodger
asks.
First rate" the boy answers as he
gulps down thick piece of parkin It's
| great fun and it makes me awful hungry.
Not SO Jolly in winter though" he adds. 81
have to take lantern then. and yell at
Mr.. sedlcy's window till I'm hoarse."
| Inquiry developed that the Walton lie Dale
folks pay three pence ha' penny week to
the knocker-up, but the Farmdale people,
| over the bridge, only give three pence. Rob
ert has crony who is in the business there,
and he knows. Roberts mother has thrifty,
energetic helpers, for Rese, bis ten-year-
| old sister. takes i'm a baby to nurse every
Saturday afternoon and makes tidy six
| pence, "toquoteher o wn words, by SO doing
| The baby's mother works in the factory and
wants Saturday for her outing. the woman
who lives with her and who minds the baby
| all the week, seeking the same recreation
Rese puts the baby in its perambulator fixes
| IT'S bottle of milk and carries it out on the
| links for the afternoon, only occasionally
does she have to bring it home and give it
hot drink and trot it up and down be-
| cause it is fretful.