My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

MY SCHOOL LIFE AT HERTFORD 33school—there being a score of boys older than myselfwho were scholars only—was exceedingly distasteful.Another thing hurt me dreadfully at the time,because it exposed me to what I thought was theLike mostridicule or contempt of the whole school.other boys, I was reckless about my clothes, leaningmy elbows on the desk till a hole was worn in myjacket, and, worse still, when cleaning my slate usingmy cuff to rub it dry. Slate sponges attached by astring were unknown to our school in those days.As new clothes were too costly to be had very often,my mother determined to save a jacket just takenfor school wear by making covers for the sleeves,which I was to wear in school. These were made ofblack calico, reaching from the cuff to the elbow, andthough I protested that I could not wear them, thatIshould be looked upon as a guy, and other equallyvalid reasons, they were one day put in my pocket,and I was told to put them on just before I enteredthe school. Of course I could not do it ;so I broughtthem back and told my mother. Then after anotherday or two of trial, one morning the dreaded thunderboltfell upon me. On entering school I was calledup to the master's desk, he produced the dreadedcalico sleeves, and told me that my mother wished meto wear them to save my jacket, and told me toputthem on. Of course I had to do so. They fittedvery well, and felt quite comfortable, and I dare saydid not look so very strange. I have no doubt alsothat most of the boys had a fellow-feeling for me, andthought it a shame to thus make me an exception to allthe school. But to me it seemed a cruel disgrace, andI was miserable so long as I wore them. How longthat was I cannot remember, but while it lasted itwas, perhaps, the severest punishment I ever endured.D