Page:Wren--The young stagers.djvu/124

106 Can't yer tike a pride in yer children? Yer know this room an' these children ain't no cleaner than wot they wos a week ago. An' look at that 'ole in 'er stockin'. Shorely you can 'ave self-respeck if you are pore. Ain't there sich a thing as a needle an' thread in the 'ol 'ouse? I expecks yer pore 'usbin' 'as to fasten 'is cloves to 'isself wiv nails. '

"’Ereupon the good lidy fair drops the cup o' tea wot she 'ad bin 'oldin' in 'er 'and.

"An' when I sees wot she done I ses 'Gorblimey, wot ’ave you done?'

"‘Look at that,' ses Muvver. ‘'Ow many times 'ave I told you as woful waste makes wilful want? You pore are the most himprovident class there is. Nor the floor ain't the plaice fer the tea if yer don't want it. 'Ow many times 'aven't I told you as cleanliness comes nex' ter Gawdliness ? '

"‘'Ow! look at that,' chimes in ol' Muvver Skin-the-Goat, apintin' to a statoo of a naked femmle in the corner. I don' know wevver it were a 'oly saint or a gordless 'eathen 'ussy—but it was nood all the same.