Then he was clever in a
good many other ways. He had an car for music, played (nothing else
was within his reach) the concertina, sang a lively song with
uncommon melodiousness--a gift much appreciated at the meetings of
a certain Mutual Benefit Club, to which his father had paid a weekly
subscription, without fail, through all adversities. In the regular
departments of learning Bob had never shown any particular aptitude;
he wrote and read decently, but his speech, as you have had occasion
for observing, was not marked by refinement, and for books he had no
liking. His father, unfortunately, had spoilt him, just as he had
spoilt Clara. Being of the nobly independent sex, between fifteen
and sixteen he practically free himself from parental control. The
use he made of his liberty was not altogether pleasing to John, but
the time for restraint and training had hopelessly gone by. The lad
was selfish, that there was no denying; he grudged the money
demanded of him for his support; but in other matters he always
showed himself so easy-tempered, so disposed to a genial
understanding, that the great fault had to be blinked. Many failings
might have been forgiven him in consideration of the fact that he
had never yet drunk too much, and indeed cared little for liquor.
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