J. J. Bell

Name: "For a Good Boy"
Author: J. J. Bell

"For a Good Boy" (1912)

Summary

“"For a Good Boy"”, published in 1912, is a work by J. J. Bell. It explores elements such as Macgregor, Macgreegor and Jessie Mary.

Quotes from "For a Good Boy" (J. J. Bell)

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ McOstrich's supper-table, upon a certain chair, had he foreseen that his most severe and superior relative, Aunt Purdie, would presently sit thereon.
But without their extenuating circumstances, which grown-up people could hardly be expected to appreciate, the four misdeeds were surely sufficient in themselves to blot out the vision of a shining prize. They did so, undoubtedly, as far as Lizzie was concerned, though she disguised her despair in exhortation and encouragement until the eleventh hour. Until which hour Macgregor replied that the watch must have a key. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ No boy worthy of the name can win a prize for good conduct. At the best, a boy may be given a prize for conduct less bad than that of his fellows. The phrase "good conduct," however, has a smugly pleasing sound to very young children, and also to adults who affect to have forgotten their own youthful misdeeds.
It was only to be expected that Macgregor would plunge from failure into failure. Nevertheless, failure involves the existence of endeavor to succeed. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Brightening for a moment: "Yer guidsister Mistress Purdie's comin' the morn's nicht."
"Oh, is she?" murmured Lizzie, who found it hard to keep friends with her haughty, moneyed sister-in-law.
"That'll be a cooky extra," said John, and guffawed.
"John!" exclaimed his wife.
"Oh, let yer man ha'e his bit joke," sighed the visitor. "Ma man has na made a joke for seeven-an'-twinty year'—no' since he tell 't me I was like a giraffe. 'Deed, it's nae fun bein' a baker, an' it's less bein' marrit on yin. If folk thocht what it meant to be marrit on a baker, their mornin' rolls would choke them. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Lizzie said, with the heavy sigh of one deploring a dreary fact, "is the best policy; an' if Macgreegor does na deserve the prize, he's no' gaun to get it."
"He'll deserve it yet," returned John, and reeled off a long list of crimes which Macgregor might have, but had not, committed.
"An' he does na deserve to ha'e a party, neither," she said. "Ye ken that yersel', John."
"No' bein' a prize, it does na count," he replied lightly. "Cheer up, Lizzie! He's nae waur nor I was when I was his age." Here followed a fearful list of John's juvenile delinquencies. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Macgregor said confidently.
There was a pause that lasted till Lizzie managed to catch her son's eye.
"I'll awa' an' learn ma lessons," said Macgregor, cheerfully, and, picking up his book, left the room.
"A guid beginnin'," remarked Mr. Purdie, bringing out his pipe and smiling.
"Oh, he'll win the prize easy," said John, with a laugh. "Eh, wife?"
Lizzie's expression softened. "I wonder hoo wee Jeannie made that big hole in her pinny," she said, taking up her sewing.
When we come to think of it, ten days is a long time to be good and diligent and obedient and well-behaved. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Lizzie, who had followed her, replied rather nervously, "Oh, it's jist Macgreegor ha'ein' a wee party for his Hogmanay."
"Oh, indeed." The visitor undid a button of her crimson cloak. "My friend Mrs. McCluny's children are having a party on the tenth of January. Mrs. McCluny is paying a man to play the pianoforte. Of course, in her position—"
"Will ye no' tak' a chair, Mistress Purdie?" ventured John, who was looking particularly red and foolish.
Aunt Purdie joined the old folks at the fireside, but declined a seat. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Ma man's aye wishin' he was a grocer, espaycially at three o'clock on a cauld, frosty mornin'. Oh, dear! I never seen a man like him for sleepin'! An' whiles he has the maist terrible bad dreams. The ither nicht he dreamed he was a cake o' gingerbread that would na rise, an' his struggles was something awfu'."
"D' ye tell me that?" said Lizzie, sympathetically, while John put his hand to his mouth. "But could he no' change to the grocery trade?"
Mrs. McOstrich wagged her beshawled gray head. "Na, na. It's ower late noo. The Ethiopian canna change his spots, nor—"
"There's Macgreegor!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ She'll no luk crabbit if ye're polite-like to her. Ha'e a shot at it, onyway. I'll come wi' ye."
Macgregor plucked up courage for the desperate venture. "Come on, then. You haud [hold] ma balloon."
Followed by his friend, Macgregor advanced solemnly toward the old people.
Said gran'paw:
"Here's Macgreegor comin' to shake han's wi' ye, Sarah. Come awa', ma mannie.
Aunt Purdie regarded her nephew condescendingly. "So you're having a party, are you? Well, I'm sure I hope you're all behaving yourselves."
His courage wavering, Macgregor pushed forward the chair. "Are ye no' for a sate?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ He gets waur every day. An' it's his fayther's fau't. He thinks he can get daein' onything he likes. I tell ye he's got to be checkit, an' if you 're no' gaun to dae yer duty—"
"Weel, weel, I'll gi'e him a word o' comfort when he comes in, wife," said John, between puffs. "But it's a fine nicht for playin' ootbye, an' I mind when I was a wean masel'—"
"That's easy mindit, for ye've never been onything else."
At this Mr. Robinson laughed heartily. "Aweel, ye've wisdom for the twa o' us, wumman." Becoming graver: "W'u'd ye like me to gang oot an' seek Macgreegor?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ I was thinkin' aboot ye comin' up in the steamboat the day, and I was wonderin' what I would gi'e ye for yer Ne'erday, if—"
"What are ye gaun to gi'e us, Gran'paw?"
"Patience, patience! What I would gi'e ye for yer Ne'erday [2] —if ye was guid an' diligent an' obedient an' weel-behaved till the end o' the year. Noo, it's no' vera lang till the end o' the year,—jist ten days,—an' I've nae doubt ye could please yer paw an' yer maw rael weel for that time, if ye was tryin'. D' ye see?"
"Aye, I see; I'll try. What are ye gaun to gi'e us?"
"It'll be a prize for guid conduc'." Mr. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Author of the "Wee Macgregor" stories, etc.
"AWFU' little news in the paper," remarked John Robinson to his wife, who had been in one of her silent moods since tea-time. "I see the Liberal's in—"
"I wisht Macgreegor was in." Lizzie lifted her eyes from the pinafore she was repairing to the clock. "It's time he was in his bed, an' he's got a' his lessons to learn for the morn." She turned to her man, shirt-sleeved and slippered, at ease by the kitchen hearth. "It'll no' dae, John. Ye'll ha'e to speak to him serious-like ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ Willie Thomson, Macgregor's chief chum; two other small boys; three little girls, whom Macgregor had not been particularly keen on inviting; and a bigger girl, Jessie Mary, aged fourteen, who acted as Lizzie's lieutenant in organizing games and keeping order generally. Aunt and Uncle Purdie were expected later, when the juvenile entertainment was over, to assist the elders in bringing in the New-Year, at which ceremony, by the way, Macgregor's presence was to be permitted on condition that he was "extra good" throughout the evening. Mrs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

J. J. Bell, "For a Good Boy" (1912)

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1934, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 89 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”

J. J. Bell

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