IDLE DICK.
Richard Watson was twelve years old; his father kept the village public-house.
I am sorry to say that Richard’s father was not a good man; he drank and swore, and his house was the resort of all the wicked fellows in the neighbourhood.
There was no Bible in the house; he never prayed to God nor attended public worship, but spent Sunday just like any other day. He bought and sold, and drank, and swore, and quarrelled on that day, just as if there was no Fourth Commandment and as if God had never said, “nor drunkards nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. vi. 10.)
I need not say that such a wicked man did not bring up his family in the fear of the Lord. He was a widower, and Richard was his only child. It was even said that his mother’s death had been hastened by sorrow for her husband’s evil conduct.
While she lived, Richard was sent to school and had learned to read; but after her death his father kept him at home, and said he would teach Richard himself, but he never took any trouble about it.