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It was just as if, being strong, healthy, and blessed with a good set of teeth, I were being fed on water-gruel. The bird-wittedness, the absence of resistance and of difficulty, were intolerable.

Louise was at the present time greatly occupied by setting up a piece of weaving, and had in consequence, greatly to Henrik's horror, brought again into use the dress surnamed "water-gruel."

It will be the age of mon lait de poule et mon bonnet de nuit. And then the cotton extinguisher is pulled over the old noddle, and the little flame of life is popped out. Don't you know elderly people who make learned notes in Army Lists, Peerages, and the like? This is the batter-pudding, water-gruel of old age. The worn-out old digestion does not care for stronger food.

Farewell, you walls, insensible witnesses of my first tears, my first smiles, and my first false steps on the slippery path of life of my first acquaintance with water-gruel and A B C! Thou corner, in which I stood with lessons difficult to be learned; and thou, in which I in vain endeavoured to tame the most thankless of all created things, a fly and a caterpillar! you floors, which have sustained me sporting and quarrelling with my beloved brother and sisters! you papers, which I have torn in my search after imagined treasures; you, the theatre of my battles with carafts and drinking-glasses of my heroic actions in manifold ways, I bid you a long farewell, and go to live in new scenes of action to have new adventures and new fate!"

"Thus you see the ship's provision is Beefe and Porke, Fish, Butter, Cheese, Pease, Pottage, Water-Gruel, Bisket, and six shilling Bear." Josselyn further gives us an estimate for: "Victuals for a whole year to be carried out of England for one man and so for more after this rate." He annexed also their current prices:

In my last lucubration I proposed the general use of water-gruel, and hinted that it might not be amiss at this very season: but as there are some, whose cases, in regard to their families, will not admit of delay, I have used my interest in several wards of the city, that the wholesome restorative above-mentioned may be given in tavern kitchens to all the mornings draught-men within the walls when they call for wine before noon.

Do but think now by your self what you have a mind either to eat, or drink; the first and worst daies are with the tossing and turmoiling passed by; neither can you recover any strength with eating of Water-gruel, sugar-sops, rosted Apples, and new laid Egs; you are not only weary of them, but it is too weak a diet for you.

"But ye wadna wait to hear out my tale, Monkbarns she gaed out, and she came in again with the gardener sae sune as she saw that nane o' ye were clodded ower the Craig, and that Miss Wardour was safe in the chariot; she was hame a quarter of an hour syne, for it's now ganging ten sair droukit was she, puir thing, sae I e'en put a glass o' sherry in her water-gruel."

Here, turnkey, fetch up the venison and the sweet sauce you may leave the water-gruel till I ring for it. If I am to say grace let me feel it first; drat your eyes all round, governor, turnkeys, chaplain and all the hypocritical crew!"

George Dyer was now seated by Charles Lamb's comfortable fire, while Lamb hastened to his medical friend, and told him that a worthy man was at his house who had almost starved himself on water-gruel. "You must come," said he, "directly, and prescribe some kitchen stuff, or the poor man will be dead. He wont take any thing from me; he says, 'tis all useless."