The Englishman in the West 171 



We can hear paterfamilias fuss and fume when 

 he reads the last paragraph. " What ! My son an 

 apprentice ? " Yes, dear Pooh-Bah, even your son. 

 You and Madam placed that empty head on his 

 shoulders. See to it that it is not filled with lead, 

 or whisky, or worse ! 



" His sisters must be considered," growls the 

 father. " They will lose caste if Johnnie is selling 

 ribbons across a counter, or working as a labourer 

 in the fields." In this democratic age, it is doubtful 

 whether any person would care twopence what 

 Johnnie was doing. If the sisters were nice girls, 

 they would not lose caste ; and if they did find the 

 houses of a few snobs closed to them, what of 

 it ? But if Johnnie owes something to his sisters, 

 do not they also owe something to him ? Is it 

 right to push a weak-minded lad outside the circle 

 of their influence ? Wellington, I believe, in his 

 Peninsular campaign, directed that the lists of cer- 

 tain soldiers reported for punishment should be sent 

 home to the men's respective parishes, there to be 

 nailed up on the church door. Johnnie is just the 

 sort of fellow who would have a wholesome awe 

 of such publicity. He goes to the devil abroad, not 

 knowing his destination, as has been said, but at 

 home he goes to church. However, there may be 

 cases in which it is expedient that Johnnie should 

 be sent to America or the colonies. Then, teach 

 him first a trade. A blacksmith^ need never herd 

 sheep; a cobbler will never lack butter to his 

 bread. And who would not sooner see his son a 

 good mechanic, rather than a starving, solitary, 

 homeless, and friendless — gentleman! 



