Page:The Strand Magazine (Volume 4).djvu/151

 to think that for some months, at any rate, they would have good and regular meals. In connection with the subject of diet, which consists of beef or mutton and potatoes for dinner, cocoa, bread, and pork for breakfast, and tea and biscuits for the third meal, I asked one jolly, rosy-cheeked little tar whether he was satisfied with his victuals. He answered with the most tremendous gravity, as "how" there was "just one thing" which he must "complain about."

"What's that?" I asked, "don't you get enough?"

"Yes, quite enough," was the tragic reply, "but the boys ought to have dripping on their biscuit twice a week, and we don't always get it once!"

Poor little chaps, one can well understand that after a time ship's biscuits, which may be very wholesome, though somewhat lacking in flavour and succulency, are likely to pall, and be much more grateful to a boy's palate when accompanied by the more insidious dripping.

The organisation, as regards internal management, school, and manual work, seems to be on much the same lines