Francis William Lauderdale Adams

“ A woman is up in one of the berths, soothing and giving suck to a baby fractious with sleep and misery. In the far corner is a huddled tartan-petticoated lump-round, with two protruding bare knees—a child unkempt, dirty, miserable, afraid of some heavy coming footstep. I know in some way that I am the child.
And then comes yet another vision, but lighter, and in a broader scene. A red-cheeked woman rolls a perambulator and a quiet little boy down a cindery path in the shine of a moist sunset. They stop by a grey, sweating, barred gate. ”

“ I hadn't known till then that I was going to Glastonbury, but, when I asked the Reverend if I was, he said, Yes, in another two years or so, perhaps.—But I didn't write to Mr. Blake: I didn't like to, somehow.
In the midsummer term I was allowed to go to the Greenwich baths in the early mornings twice a week with the fellows that went. Langholm, a big fellow of eighteen who'd been at a public school, promised the Reverend he'd look after me and teach me to swim. So he did. And I soon learnt. And he said I was the pluckiest little devil he ever saw in his life. ”

“ You hear me, don't you? Don't go thinking about things till they grow hateful to you. Try to be bright and merry. Be with the other fellows more.... I was right, there? You aren't much? "They're such fools!" hey?' (He laughed.) 'Well, you mustn't mind that. You're not always wise, are you?... You don't think I'm sermoning you?'
'No,' I said, 'I see.'
A pause.
He smiled again.
'At any rate,' he said, and pinched my cheek gently, 'Mr. Whittaker has given me permission to write to your guardian, Colonel James, as well as promised to write himself, about your going to Glastonbury. ”

“ One or two fellows made up to me a little at first; but I just answered them and turned away, neither caring to talk to them or let them talk to me. It was not that I was homesick: I had no home. I did not know what it was.
I like Wallace better than any of the others. Neither of us ever have jam or cake: he has not even 3d. a week like me. He loves his little belly. He'll always go to Harris's, the grub shop, for anyone who'll give him a good big bit of the stuff they're getting. (Of course you're licked if you're caught going, except on Saturdays and Wednesdays from two to three.) ”

“ But please help me to be a great man. Through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord, Amen.'
Then I got up, and undressed, and slipping into bed, was soon asleep.
The next morning Mr. Purchis and I came up by train to some large station, where we got out and crossed to another platform. As we were going, he, having me by the hand, told me to tie my white woollen comforter round my arm, so that 'the Colonel's man' might know me at the other end. I was put into a third-class compartment: Mr. Purchis gave me a shake by the hand, and turned and went away down the platform. ”

“ Whittaker, he said, would see that my clothes, etc., were in a fit condition, and she had also been informed that I might have two shillings over and above my usual pocket-money. I felt rather older after that. I didn't tell anyone about it though.
The Whittakers went away to the seaside, as usual, leaving Wallace and me with Margaret, the new maid. (There were always new maids.) I enjoyed these holidays. I bought a pipe and some tobacco, and smoked it one day in Greenwich Park, but I was very nearly ill and very dizzy, and thought I would never do it again. ”

“ Likewise she reads fellows' letters. She corrects fellows' letters home, and makes them say that Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker are very kind to them, and other things. Besides, she tells lies. She has two babies, little brats that squawl. I hate her.
I don't mind the work much, especially the history. Latin's rather rot, and so is geography and arithmetic. I like poetry best: we have a book full of it. The first poem is called 'The Universal Prayer,' by A. Pope. The one I like best is called 'A Psalm of Life,' by H. W. Longfellow. ”