1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

214 the flowing bowl would not need to sleep on the coals. He might have been a tax-gatherer, or a bailiff. Mr. Creakle, the schoolmaster, appears to have been a bit of an imbiber, whilst the boys themselves partook, sub rosa^ of cowslip wine, occasionally fortified by Steerforth with orange juice, ginger, or a peppermint drop ; and it was probably due to this decoction, rather than to "Crab," that poor Traddles became ill in the night—his sufferings being unduly prolonged by black draughts and blue pills, not to mention six chapters of Greek Testament and a special- extra caning. Poor little David partook or assorted drinks during his boyhood, including the aforesaid " Genuine Stunning," and occa sional wine-glasses of punch whilst lodging with the Micawber family ; and, his good aunt once found, "her first proceeding was to unlock a tall press, bring out several bottles, and pour some of the contents of each into my mouth. I think they must have been taken out at random, for I am sure I tasted aniseed water, anchovy sauce, and salad dressing." " My aunt" partook of hot white wine and water, with strips of toast soaked therein, by way of a night-cap j and whenever Micawber turns up, we may be sure that the ingredients for a bowl of punch (presumably rum punch) are not far off. Not much drinking was done in the Peggotty family, but Mrs. Crupp, David's landlady, seems to have had the proverbial passion of her race for brandy ; and, naturally enough, the " handy young man " hired to wait, on the occasion of the dinner to Steerforth, got more