The Clean HeartHutchinson, A. S. M. (Arthur Stuart-Menteth)
Science
The Clean Heart
Hutchinson, A. S. M. (Arthur Stuart-Menteth)
Authors -- Fiction; Happiness -- Fiction
With like purpose it is in fearful apprehension that she watches her
son's face and his every movement when he is at the luncheon table.
Mr. Wriford sees her look up with face in agony of misgiving when the
Headmaster comes in late, sees her eyes ever upon him in constant
dread as he sits opposite her at the head of the table. There does
not appear great cause for nervousness. As a rule the Headmaster
sits glowering and glum and fires off no more than, his own plate
being empty, an occasional "EAT UP!" Sometimes he is boisterously
cheerful. Whatever his mood he never omits one very satisfactory
tribute to his own principles in which his mother joins very happily
and impressively. It takes this form. Immediately Mr. Pennyquick
sits down he calls in a very loud voice for the water to be passed to
him. He then fills his glass from such a great height as to make all
the boys laugh, then drinks, then sets down the tumbler with a sharp
rap, and then says to Mr. Wriford: "I don't know if you're a
beer-drinker, Wriford, but I'm afraid we can't indulge you here. I
never touch anything but water myself. I attribute every misery,
every failure in life, to drink, and I will allow it in no shape or
form beneath my roof. I can give no man a better motto than my own
motto: Stick to Water!"
Mr. Pennyquick then drinks again with great impressiveness, and Mrs.
Pennyquick at once cries: "Boys, listen to that! Always remember
what Mr. Pennyquick says and always say it was Mr. Pennyquick who
told you. Stick to Water is Mr. Pennyquick's motto, and he never,
never allows drink in any shape or form beneath his roof. Why, do
you know--I must tell them this, dear--a doctor once ordered Mr.
Pennyquick just a small glass of wine once a day, and Mr. Pennyquick
said to him: 'Doctor, I know I'm very ill; but if wine is the only
thing to save me, then, doctor, I must die, for wine I do not and
will not touch.'"
All eyes in great admiration on this unflinching champion of
hydropathy, who modestly concludes the scene with a loud: "EAT UP!"
V
Afternoon school, in its idleness, inattention, and indiscipline, is
a repetition of the morning. Preparation from six to half-past seven
again discovers irresolution, uncertainty and wretchedness set in the
midst of those who by every device increase it and advantage
themselves from it. At four o'clock it is Mr. Wriford's duty to keep
an eye on the boys while they disport themselves in the field where
he had first seen them; at half-past five is tea; at shortly before
eight Mr. Wriford is making his way to where supper awaits in the
cheerful parlour behind the little shop of the cert. plumber.
Thither he goes through the darkness; and, as one in darkness that
gropes for light, can see no light, and dreads the sudden leap of
some assault, so trembles he among the dark oppressions of his mind.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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