watch all the people who refuse to listen to good advice, and who trample religion and morality under foot, and take warning from their example. And do not place yourself on an equality with Stern, whose father is rich, and who will have enough money in any case, even if he won’t be a broker, and though he may now and then do something that’s wrong. Do remember that all evil is punished: only look again at that Shawlman, who has no overcoat, and who looks just like a comedian. Do listen carefully at Church, and don’t sit there wriggling in all directions on your seat, as if you were bored, my boy, for . . . what must God think of that? The Church is His sanctuary, you see! And don’t wait for young girls when Church is over, for that takes away all your edification. And also don’t make Mary giggle when I read the Scripture at breakfast-time. That is not becoming in a respectable household; and then you have drawn funny figures in Bastians’ ledger, while the man has been away again—as he’s always having lumbago—that keeps the men in the office from their work, and it says in God’s Word that such follies lead to perdition. That Shawlman also did improper things when he was young: as a child he struck a Greek in the Westermarket . . . now he is lazy, pedantic, and sickly, so you see! Don’t always then be making jokes with Stern, my boy, his father is rich, you must remember. Pretend not to see it when he is making faces at the book-keeper. And when outside the office he is busy making up verses, just casually remark to him that he is very well off being with us, and that Mary has embroidered slippers for him with real floss-silk. Just ask him quite of your own accord, you know!—whether he thinks his father is likely to go to Busselinck & Waterman, and tell him they are tricksters. You see, one owes a warning like that to one’s neighbour—I mean you’ll put him into the right way by it—and . . . all this verse-making is nonsense. You be good and obedient, Frits, and don’t pull the servant by her skirt when she brings tea to the office, and don’t put me to shame, for she’ll spill the tea, and St. Paul says a son should never cause his father sorrow. I’ve been
