The boys were trained to change their clothes before they waited at the
dinner table, and to return to their working dresses after dinner when
washing up was necessary. In this habit they were rigidly particular,
and every boy then tied his dinner suit in a parcel, and suspended it to
the roof of his hut to be ready for the next meal.
There was a regular hour for every kind of work, and this domestic
discipline had so far civilized the boys that they were of the greatest
possible comfort to ourselves.
The washing up after dinner was not a very long operation, as half a
dozen plates and the same number of knives and forks, with a couple of
dishes, were divided among six servants.
Directly after this work, play was allowed. If the night were moonlight,
the girls were summoned, and dancing commenced. During the day, their
games were either playing at soldiers, or throwing lances at marks, &c.
Thieving was quite unknown among the boys, all of whom were scrupulously
honest. The sugar might be left among them, or even milk; but none of
the boys I have mentioned would have condescended to steal. They had
been so well instructed and cared for by my wife, that in many ways they
might have been excellent examples for lads of their class in England.
