Nice little story about an old homeless man who lives on the streets of Paris. He likes his freedom from what he considers the burdens of responsibilities like a job. He’s disgruntled one day to come ‘home’ and find three children huddled in his spot under a bridge, waiting for their mother. They’ve lost the place they rented and can’t quite afford a new one yet. Our tramp (the book uses this word repeatedly) doesn’t want anything to do with someone else’s children, but finds his heart gradually softening towards them. First he takes advantage of their cuteness and sweet voices to help him panhandle, then he takes them to meet his friends in a gypsy camp (another objectionable word used in this book) and later he ends up helping them find a new place to live. And realizing that being a little settled down with family to care for (who also care for you) isn’t so bad after all. The story is replete with Christmas season details and some light humor. I found it quite charming, which wasn’t my expectations at all. I thought it would be stuffy and old-fashioned and it is some of that, but really I liked it better than I had anticipated.
Completed on 7/24/24. For a very different look at homlessness in France, there’s Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell.
