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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