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nine hundred and ninety in the eleven months she has been with us。
Then; for baby; there is Dr。 Bates's bill of forty…five guineas;
two guineas for christening; twenty for a grand christening supper
and ball (rich uncle John mortally offended because he was made
godfather; and had to give baby a silver cup: he has struck Thomas
out of his will: and old Mr。 Firkin quite as much hurt because he
was NOT asked: he will not speak to me or Thomas in consequence)
twenty guineas for flannels; laces; little gowns; caps; napkins;
and such baby's ware: and all this out of 300L。 a year! But Thomas
expects to make A GREAT DEAL by his farm。
〃We have got the most charming country…house YOU CAN IMAGINE: it is
QUITE SHUT IN by trees; and so retired that; though only thirty
miles from London; the post comes to us but once a week。 The
roads; it must be confessed; are execrable; it is winter now; and
we are up to our knees in mud and snow。 But oh; Eliza! how happy
we are: with Thomas (he has had a sad attack of rheumatism; dear
man!) and little Bobby; and our kind friend Dr。 Bates; who comes so
far to see us; I leave you to fancy that we have a charming merry
party; and do not care for all the gayeties of Ranelagh。
〃Adieu! dear baby is crying for his mamma。 A thousand kisses from
your affectionate
〃SUSAN STUBBS。〃
There it is! Doctor's bills; gentleman…farming; twenty…one pints
of porter a week。 In this way my unnatural parents were already
robbing me of my property。
FEBRUARY。CUTTING WEATHER。
I have called this chapter 〃cutting weather;〃 partly in compliment
to the month of February; and partly in respect of my own
misfortunes; which you are going to read about。 For I have often
thought that January (which is mostly twelfth…cake and holiday
time) is like the first four or five years of a little boy's life;
then comes dismal February; and the working…days with it; when
chaps begin to look out for themselves; after the Christmas and the
New Year's heyday and merrymaking are over; which our infancy may
well be said to be。 Well can I recollect that bitter first of
February; when I first launched out into the world and appeared at
Doctor Swishtail's academy。
I began at school that life of prudence and economy which I have
carried on ever since。 My mother gave me eighteenpence on setting
out (poor soul! I thought her heart would break as she kissed me;
and bade God bless me); and; besides; I had a small capital of my
own which I had amassed for a year previous。 I'll tell you; what I
used to do。 Wherever I saw six halfpence I took one。 If it was
asked for I said I had taken it and gave it back;if it was not
missed; I said nothing about it; as why should I?those who don't
miss their money; don't lose their money。 So I had a little
private fortune of three shillings; besides mother's eighteenpence。
At school they called me the copper…merchant; I had such lots of
it。
Now; even at a preparatory school; a well…regulated boy may better
himself: and I can tell you I did。 I never was in any quarrels: I
never was very high in the class or very low: but there was no chap
so much respected:and why? I'D ALWAYS MONEY。 The other boys
spent all theirs in the first day or two; and they gave me plenty
of cakes and barley…sugar then; I can tell you。 I'd no need to
spend my own money; for they would insist upon treating me。 Well;
in a week; when theirs was gone; and they had but their threepence
a week to look to for the rest of the half…year; what did I do?
Why; I am proud to say that three…halfpence out of the threepence a
week of almost all the young gentlemen at Dr。 Swishtail's; came
into my pocket。 Suppose; for instance; Tom Hicks wanted a slice of
gingerbread; who had the money? Little Bob Stubbs; to be sure。
〃Hicks;〃 I used to say; 〃I'LL buy you three halfp'orth of
gingerbread; if you'll give me threepence next Saturday。〃 And he
agreed; and next Saturday came; and he very often could not pay me
more than three…halfpence。 Then there was the threepence I was to
have THE NEXT Saturday。 I'll tell you what I did for a whole half…
year:I lent a chap; by the name of Dick Bunting; three…halfpence
the first Saturday for three…pence the next: he could not pay me
more than half when Saturday came; and I'm blest if I did not make
him pay me three…halfpence FOR THREE…AND…TWENTY WEEKS RUNNING;
making two shillings and tenpence…halfpenny。 But he was a sad
dishonorable fellow; Dick Bunting; for after I'd been so kind to
him; and let him off for three…and…twenty…weeks the money he owed
me; holidays came; and threepence he owed me still。 Well;
according to the common principles of practice; after six…weeks'
holidays; he ought to have paid me exactly sixteen shillings; which
was my due。 For the
First week the 3d。 would be 6d。 | Fourth week 。 。 。 。 。 4s。
Second week 。 。 。 。 。 1s。 | Fifth week 。 。 。 。 。 8s。
Third week 。 。 。 。 。 2s。 | Sixth week 。 。 。 。 。 16s。
Nothing could be more just; and yetwill it be believed? when
Bunting came back he offered me THREE…HALFPENCE! the mean;
dishonest scoundrel。
However; I was even with him; I can tell you。He spent all his
money in a fortnight; and THEN I screwed him down! I made him;
besides giving me a penny for a penny; pay me a quarter of his
bread and butter at breakfast and a quarter of his cheese at
supper; and before the half…year was out; I got from him a silver
fruit…knife; a box of compasses; and a very pretty silver…laced
waistcoat; in which I went home as proud as a king: and; what's
more; I had no less than three golden guineas in the pocket of it;
besides fifteen shillings; the knife; and a brass bottle…screw;
which I got from another chap。 It wasn't bad interest for twelve
shillingswhich was all the money I'd had in the yearwas it?
Heigho! I've often wished that I could get such a chance again in
this wicked world; but men are more avaricious now than they used
to be in those dear early days。
Well; I went home in my new waistcoat as fine as a peacock; and
when I gave the bottle…screw to my father; begging him to take it
as a token of my affection for him; my dear mother burst into such
a fit of tears as I never saw; and kissed and hugged me fit to
smother me。 〃Bless him; bless him;〃 says she; 〃to think of his old
father。 And where did you purchase it; Bob?〃〃Why; mother;〃 says
I; 〃I purchased it out of my savings〃 (which was as true as the
gospel)。When I said this; mother looked round to father; smiling;
although she had tears in her eyes; and she took his hand; and with
her other hand drew me to her。 〃Is he not a noble boy?〃 says she
to my father: 〃and only nine years old!〃〃Faith;〃 says my father;
〃he IS a good lad; Susan。 Thank thee; my boy: and here is a crown…
piece in return for thy bottle…screwit shall open us a bottle of
the very best too;〃 says my father。 And he kept his w