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the very best too；〃 says my father。 And he kept his word。 I
always was fond of good wine （though never； from a motive of proper
self…denial； having any in my cellar）； and； by Jupiter！ on this
night I had my little skinful；for there was no stinting；so
pleased were my dear parents with the bottle…screw。 The best of it
was； it only cost me threepence originally； which a chap could not
pay me。
Seeing this game was such a good one； I became very generous
towards my parents； and a capital way it is to encourage liberality
in children。 I gave mamma a very neat brass thimble； and she gave
me a half…guinea piece。 Then I gave her a very pretty needle…book；
which I made myself with an ace of spades from a new pack of cards
we had； and I got Sally； our maid； to cover it with a bit of pink
satin her mistress had given her； and I made the leaves of the
book； which I vandyked very nicely； out of a piece of flannel I had
had round my neck for a sore throat。 It smelt a little of
hartshorn； but it was a beautiful needle…book； and mamma was so
delighted with it； that she went into town and bought me a gold…
laced hat。 Then I bought papa a pretty china tobacco…stopper： but
I am sorry to say of my dear father that he was not so generous as
my mamma or myself； for he only burst out laughing； and did not
give me so much as a half…crown piece； which was the least I
expected from him。 〃I shan't give you anything； Bob； this time；〃
says he； 〃and I wish； my boy； you would not make any more such
presents；for； really； they are too expensive。〃 Expensive indeed！
I hate meanness；even in a father。
I must tell you about the silver…edged waistcoat which Bunting gave
me。 Mamma asked me about it； and I told her the truth；that it
was a present from one of the boys for my kindness to him。 Well；
what does she do but writes back to Dr。 Swishtail； when I went to
school； thanking him for his attention to her dear son； and sending
a shilling to the good and grateful little boy who had given me the
waistcoat！
〃What waistcoat is it；〃 says the Doctor to me； 〃and who gave it to
you？〃
〃Bunting gave it me； sir；〃 says I。
〃Call Bunting！〃 and up the little ungrateful chap came。 Would you
believe it； he burst into tears；told that the waistcoat had been
given him by his mother； and that he had been forced to give it
for a debt to Copper…Merchant； as the nasty little blackguard
called me？ He then said how； for three…halfpence； he had been
compelled to pay me three shillings （the sneak！ as if he had been
OBLIGED to borrow the three…halfpence！）how all the other boys
had been swindled （swindled！） by me in like manner；and how；
with only twelve shillings； I had managed to scrape together four
guineas。 。 。 。 。
My courage almost fails me as I describe the shameful scene that
followed。 The boys were called in； my own little account…book was
dragged out of my cupboard； to prove how much I had received from
each； and every farthing of my money was paid back to them。 The
tyrant took the thirty shillings that my dear parents had given me；
and said he should put them into the poor…box at church； and； after
having made a long discourse to the boys about meanness and usury；
he said； 〃Take off your coat； Mr。 Stubbs； and restore Bunting his
waistcoat。〃 I did； and stood without coat and waistcoat in the
midst of the nasty grinning boys。 I was going to put on my coat；
〃Stop！〃 says he。 〃TAKE DOWN HIS BREECHES！〃
Ruthless； brutal villain！ Sam Hopkins； the biggest boy； took them
downhorsed meand I WAS FLOGGED； SIR： yes； flogged！ O revenge！
I； Robert Stubbs； who had done nothing but what was right； was
brutally flogged at ten years of age！Though February was the
shortest month； I remembered it long。
MARCH。SHOWERY。
When my mamma heard of the treatment of her darling she was for
bringing an action against the schoolmaster； or else for tearing
his eyes out （when； dear soul！ she would not have torn the eyes out
of a flea； had it been her own injury）； and； at the very least； for
having me removed from the school where I had been so shamefully
treated。 But papa was stern for once； and vowed that I had been
served quite right； declared that I should not be removed from
school； and sent old Swishtail a brace of pheasants for what he
called his kindness to me。 Of these the old gentleman invited me
to partake； and made a very queer speech at dinner； as he was
cutting them up； about the excellence of my parents； and his own
determination to be KINDER STILL to me； if ever I ventured on such
practices again。 So I was obliged to give up my old trade of
lending： for the Doctor declared that any boy who borrowed should
be flogged； and any one who PAID should be flogged twice as much。
There was no standing against such a prohibition as this； and my
little commerce was ruined。
I was not very high in the school： not having been able to get
farther than that dreadful Propria quae maribus in the Latin
grammar； of which； though I have it by heart even now； I never
could understand a syllable： but； on account of my size； my age；
and the prayers of my mother； was allowed to have the privilege of
the bigger boys； and on holidays to walk about in the town。 Great
dandies we were； too； when we thus went out。 I recollect my
costume very well： a thunder…and…lightning coat； a white waistcoat
embroidered neatly at the pockets； a lace frill； a pair of knee…
breeches； and elegant white cotton or silk stockings。 This did
very well； but still I was dissatisfied： I wanted A PAIR OF BOOTS。
Three boys in the school had bootsI was mad to have them too。
But my papa； when I wrote to him； would not hear of it； and three
pounds； the price of a pair； was too large a sum for my mother to
take from the housekeeping； or for me to pay； in the present
impoverished state of my exchequer； but the desire for the boots
was so strong； that have them I must at any rate。
There was a German bootmaker who had just set up in OUR town in
those days； who afterwards made his fortune in London。 I
determined to have the boots from him； and did not despair； before
the end of a year or two； either to leave the school； when I should
not mind his dunning me； or to screw the money from mamma； and so
pay him。
So I called upon this manStiffelkind was his nameand he took my
measure for a pair。
〃You are a vary yong gentleman to wear dop…boots；〃 said the
shoemaker。
〃I suppose； fellow；〃 says I； 〃that is my business and not yours。
Either make the boots or notbut when you speak to a man of my
rank； speak respectfully！〃 And I poured out a number of oaths； in
order to impress him with a notion of my respectability。
They had the desired effect。 〃Stay； sir；〃 says he。 〃I have a nice
littel pair of dop…boots dat I tink will jost do for you。〃 And he
produced； sure enough； the most elegant things I ever saw。 〃Day
were made；〃 said he； 〃for de Honorable