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Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

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I would presenthim with myexcuse, “Youwere busy withsomeone <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>consult<strong>in</strong>groom.” If anyonewas <strong>in</strong> withhim, I was off.I was terriblylonely as a boyof 10 — a slaveto my fa<strong>the</strong>rwho wantedme every momen<strong>the</strong> couldget me. Consequently,Iwasn’t exposedto <strong>the</strong> temptationand s<strong>in</strong> thatmany o<strong>the</strong>rboys of my ageOn Grandad’s Kneewere. This didn’t make me better than <strong>the</strong>m; I simply lacked <strong>the</strong>opportunity to s<strong>in</strong>.I can’t recall that Fa<strong>the</strong>r ever gave me a penny to spend. He wasa heartache to Mo<strong>the</strong>r whenever she would ask him for moneyto buy even a half p<strong>in</strong>t of milk. He never offered her housekeep<strong>in</strong>gmoney. She had to go to him for everyth<strong>in</strong>g she wanted, atearful argument follow<strong>in</strong>g each time she would ask for money.Mo<strong>the</strong>r would buy a pot of jam on Friday, and I could prophesywhen it would f<strong>in</strong>ish — Tuesday, Tea Time. Then we went fromTuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, before ano<strong>the</strong>r pot of jam wouldappear on Friday.We lived with a strange comb<strong>in</strong>ation of hav<strong>in</strong>g and lack<strong>in</strong>g. Isometimes had to shape cardboard and three-ply wood to put<strong>in</strong>to my shoes to stop my feet from touch<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> ground. At <strong>the</strong>same time, Fa<strong>the</strong>r had his brass nameplate outside <strong>the</strong> big twelve-5

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