按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
interfere between my friend and me。 That is the ground I take。 I
assume a … a paternal character towards my friend。 I say； 〃My good
fellow； I will treat you paternally。〃'
Toby listened with great gravity； and began to feel more comfortable。
'Your only business； my good fellow；' pursued Sir Joseph； looking
abstractedly at Toby； 'your only business in life is with me。 You needn't
trouble yourself to think about anything。 I will think for you； I know
what is good for you； I am your perpetual parent。 Such is the
dispensation of an all…wise Providence！ Now； the design of your creation
is … not that you should swill； and guzzle； and associate your enjoyments；
brutally； with food； Toby thought remorsefully of the tripe； 'but that you
should feel the Dignity of Labour。 Go forth erect into the cheerful
morning air； and … and stop there。 Live hard and temperately； be
respectful； exercise your self…denial； bring up your family on next to
nothing； pay your rent as regularly as the clock strikes； be punctual in your
dealings （I set you a good example； you will find Mr。 Fish； my
confidential secretary； with a cash…box before him at all times）； and you
may trust to me to be your Friend and Father。'
'Nice children； indeed； Sir Joseph！' said the lady； with a shudder。
'Rheumatisms； and fevers； and crooked legs； and asthmas； and all kinds of
horrors！'
'My lady；' returned Sir Joseph； with solemnity； 'not the less am I the
Poor Man's Friend and Father。 Not the less shall he receive
encouragement at my hands。 Every quarter…day he will be put in
communication with Mr。 Fish。 Every New Year's Day； myself and
friends will drink his health。 Once every year； myself and friends will
address him with the deepest feeling。 Once in his life； he may even
perhaps receive； in public； in the presence of the gentry； a Trifle from a
28
… Page 29…
The Chimes
Friend。 And when； upheld no more by these stimulants； and the Dignity
of Labour； he sinks into his comfortable grave； then； my lady' … here Sir
Joseph blew his nose … 'I will be a Friend and a Father … on the same terms
… to his children。'
Toby was greatly moved。
'O！ You have a thankful family； Sir Joseph！' cried his wife。
'My lady；' said Sir Joseph； quite majestically； 'Ingratitude is known to
be the sin of that class。 I expect no other return。'
'Ah！ Born bad！' thought Toby。 'Nothing melts us。'
'What man can do； I do；' pursued Sir Joseph。 'I do my duty as the
Poor Man's Friend and Father； and I endeavour to educate his mind； by
inculcating on all occasions the one great moral lesson which that class
requires。 That is； entire Dependence on myself。 They have no business
whatever with … with themselves。 If wicked and designing persons tell
them otherwise； and they become impatient and discontented； and are
guilty of insubordinate conduct and black…hearted ingratitude； which is
undoubtedly the case； I am their Friend and Father still。 It is so Ordained。
It is in the nature of things。'
With that great sentiment； he opened the Alderman's letter； and read it。
'Very polite and attentive； I am sure！' exclaimed Sir Joseph。 'My lady；
the Alderman is so obliging as to remind me that he has had 〃the
distinguished honour〃 … he is very good … of meeting me at the house of
our mutual friend Deedles； the banker； and he does me the favour to
inquire whether it will be agreeable to me to have Will Fern put down。'
'MOST agreeable！' replied my Lady Bowley。 'The worst man among
them！ He has been committing a robbery； I hope？'
'Why no；' said Sir Joseph'； referring to the letter。 'Not quite。 Very
near。 Not quite。 He came up to London； it seems； to look for
employment （trying to better himself … that's his story）； and being found at
night asleep in a shed； was taken into custody； and carried next morning
before the Alderman。 The Alderman observes （very properly） that he is
determined to put this sort of thing down； and that if it will be agreeable to
me to have Will Fern put down； he will be happy to begin with him。'
'Let him be made an example of； by all means；' returned the lady。 'Last
29
… Page 30…
The Chimes
winter； when I introduced pinking and eyelet…holing among the men and
boys in the village； as a nice evening employment； and had the lines；
O let us love our occupations； Bless the squire and his relations； Live
upon our daily rations； And always know our proper stations；
set to music on the new system； for them to sing the while； this very
Fern … I see him now … touched that hat of his； and said； 〃I humbly ask
your pardon； my lady； but AN'T I something different from a great girl？〃
I expected it； of course； who can expect anything but insolence and
ingratitude from that class of people！ That is not to the purpose； however。
Sir Joseph！ Make an example of him！'
'Hem！' coughed Sir Joseph。 'Mr。 Fish； if you'll have the goodness to
attend … '
Mr。 Fish immediately seized his pen； and wrote from Sir Joseph's
dictation。
'Private。 My dear Sir。 I am very much indebted to you for your
courtesy in the matter of the man William Fern； of whom； I regret to add； I
can say nothing favourable。 I have uniformly considered myself in the
light of his Friend and Father； but have been repaid （a common case； I
grieve to say） with ingratitude； and constant opposition to my plans。 He
is a turbulent and rebellious spirit。 His character will not bear investigation。
Nothing will persuade him to be happy when he might。 Under these
circumstances； it appears to me； I own； that when he comes before you
again （as you informed me he promised to do to…morrow； pending your
inquiries； and I think he