'I'm going to talk to you like a mother

　　'I'm going to talk to you like a mother, because yours are far away;and there are things that mothers can manage best, if they do theirduty,' she solemnly began from the depths of the sunbonnet.

　　'Great Scott! We're in for it now!' thought Dolly, in secret dismay;while Stuffy got the first blow by trying to sustain himself withanother mug of beer.

　　'That won't hurt you; but I must warn you about drinking otherthings, George. Overeating is an old story; and a few more fits ofillness will teach you to be wise. But drinking is a more seriousthing, and leads to worse harm than any that can afflict your bodyalone. I hear you talk about wines as if you knew them and cared morefor them than a boy should; and several times I've heard jokes thatmeant mischief. For heaven's sake, don't begin to play with thisdangerous taste "for fun", as you say, or because it's the fashion,and the other fellows do. Stop at once, and learn that temperance inall things is the only safe rule.'

　　'Upon my honour, I only take wine and iron. I need a tonic, mothersays, to repair the waste of brain-tissue while I'm studying,'

　　protested Stuffy, putting down the mug as if it burnt his fingers.

　　'Good beef and oatmeal will repair your tissues much better than anytonic of that sort. Work and plain fare are what you want; and I wishI had you here for a few months out of harm's way. I'd Banting you,and fit you to run without puffing, and get on without four or fivemeals a day. What an absurd hand that is for a man! You ought to beashamed of it!' And Mrs Jo caught up the plump fist, with deepdimples at each knuckle, which was fumbling distressfully at thebuckle of the belt girt about a waist far too large for a youth ofhis age.

　　'I can't help it--we all grow fat; it's in the family,' said Stuffyin self-defence.

　　'All the more reason you should live carefully. Do you want to dieearly, or be an invalid all your life?'

　　'No, ma'am!'

　　Stuffy looked so scared that Mrs Jo could not be hard upon hisbudding sins, for they lay at his overindulgent mother's door line ina great measure; so she softened the tone of her voice, and added,with a little slap on the fat hand, as she used to do when it wassmall enough to pilfer lumps of sugar from her bowl:

　　'Then be careful; for a man writes his character in his face; and youdon't want gluttony and intemperance in yours, I know.'

　　'I'm sure I don't! Please make out a wholesome bill of fare, and I'llstick to it, if I can. I am getting stout, and I don't like it; andmy liver's torpid, and I have palpitations and headache. Overwork,mother says; but it may be overeating.' And Stuffy gave a sigh ofmingled regret for the good things he renounced, and relief as hefinished loosening his belt as soon as his hand was free.

　　'I will; follow it, and in a year you'll be a man and not a meal-bag.

　　Now, Dolly'; and Mrs Jo turned to the other culprit, who shook in hisshoes and wished he hadn't come.

　　'Are you studying French as industriously as you were last winter?'