Edward Henry Michelsen

“ The pillaver is a nomadic rag-merchant, leading in every respect the life of a gipsy, except that he does not, like him, drag his family with him, but leaves them in some cave in the mountains to await his return from his trips through the country, where he purchases quantities of rags to re-sell them to the paper manufacturers. He goes from farm to farm, cottage to cottage, and hut to hut, where he announces his arrival by the lugubrious cry—“Pillaver! Pillaver!” His favourite haunts are the most wretched and poor huts, where he is sure to find his commodity. ”

“ Go on, poor pillaver, the road is hard under your feet, but Jesus does not judge after the manner of men; and if you are honest and a good Christian, you will be rewarded for your pain and toil, and awake in glory. ”

“ He finds in the country neither relations nor friends, and at his approach the doors are closed, for the pillaver is a man without faith.
On Sundays and holidays he is always on the road; he never hears mass nor service. ”