The Sisters, p11

etexts: [html] [1914] [1904] [1905]

notes: [gifford] [andover] [rap]

[map]





— I wouldn't like children of mine, he said, to have too much to say to a man like that.



— How do you mean, Mr Cotter? asked my aunt.



— What I mean is, said old Cotter, it's bad for children. My idea is: let a young lad run about and play with young lads of his own age and not be... Am I right, Jack?



— That's my principle too, said my uncle. Let him learn to box his corner. That's what I'm always saying to that Rosicrucian there: take exercise. Why, when I was a nipper every morning of my life I had a cold bath, winter and summer. And that's what stands to me now. Education is all very fine and large... Mr Cotter might take a pick of that leg of mutton, he added to my aunt.

"box his corner" 1929 = defend his territory like a boxer

"Rosicrucian" = unworldly philosopher?

"mutton" (Cotter gets stirabout too, but the boy isn't offered any mutton-- maybe the stirabout has mutton in it?)


— No, no, not for me, said old Cotter.

My aunt brought the dish from the safe and laid it on the table.

she guesses he's just being polite

"safe" = a ventilated chest or closet for securing provisions from insects


— But why do you think it's not good for children, Mr Cotter? she asked.



— It's bad for children, said old Cotter, because their minds are so impressionable. When children see things like that, you know, it has an effect...



I crammed my mouth with stirabout for fear I might give utterance to my anger. Tiresome old red-nosed imbecile!



It was late when I fell asleep. Though I was angry with old Cotter for alluding to me as a child, I puzzled my head to extract meaning from his unfinished sentences. In the dark of my room I imagined that I saw again the heavy grey face

"for alluding to me as a child" (JAJ was 13yo in July 1895, approximately the same age as the boys in Ulysses' episode 2)



FrankMcCourt

DonalDonnelly

JimNorton


[LV 02:54-04:23]
yTube