Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

CHAPTER XXVIIIMEMBERS OF THE UNDERWORLDTHIS is the name that we give to that little corpsof scavengers whose humble, gruesome dutiesminister so continuously to the comfort of ourlife in SIEGLINDA. My review of our journeyswould be quite incomplete did I not deal withthis question, as the prompt and wise disposal ofodds and ends is a practice not always easilyattained by caravanners. And first I must introduceyou to Jessica the derivation of whosename is now wrapped in age-old obscurity. Sheis a green canvas bucket or :bag to be precise, afireman's bucket. She is light, collapsible, watertight,and she hangs in the housemaid's cupboardin the kitchen.Jessica is the universal recipient. Refusal isunknown to her. All's fish that comes into her net .She will collect in a single day, and gulp downout of sight,potato peelings, fish-bones, torn-upletters, plum-stones, fruit-tins, tobacco ash,empty match-boxes, withered flowers, exploded242