A Boy's Will (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ...nothing at all." But Mark, cheerfully certain that he was not mistaken, threw off his burden of care, and at once became his old heedless self. Being tolerably sure that if he hadn't got the half-year's rent ready by Lady Day, James Bawlings would help them out of their difficulty, he began to patronise the "Boar's Head" once more, and to calculate less anxiously how his money would hold out. "I don't know what we shall do, miss," said poor Mrs. Winstone, wiping her eyes; "he was going on so nice and steady at first, but now he's often not in till after ten o'clock, and sometimes he's quite tipsy. Oh dear, dear I wish he wasn't so fond of the drink. No, Fanny, you mustn't have any more of my beer; you've drunk nearly a quarter of it already, I declare " Fanny laughed, and ran off to play, and when she was gone Miss Mallory asked--" Why do you let the children have it when they are little, Mrs. Winstone, if you don't want them to like it when they grow older?" "Well, miss, I don't have any except on washingdays, and then I just send for half a pint with my dinner. And Fanny, she's that fond of it that I let her have a little sup as a treat. Why, miss, when she was only four years old she used to say, 'Mother, is this washing-day? shall you have some beer?' Just see, the little puss has drunk all that, miss " and Mrs. Winstone laughed heartily as she pointed to the cup. "And if Fanny should grow up to be a drinking woman, whom will she blame?" asked the lady gently. "Oh, I hope, please God, she'll never do that," and Mrs. Winstone shook her head solemnly. "'Tis but a little sup, after all--nothing to hurt her." Miss Mallory sighed as she rose to go. "It is a...