Page 76 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

Willem may have been a "good" boy, but he was not perfect. There are
two amusing tales of his mischief. One involves swords, and is best told
in his own words:

"I remember that Dad gave my younger brother (Abe) and me swords. To
this day, I cannot understand why we were given such dangerous toys.
But we proudly wore them, looking for something to use them on. One
day we got the idea of going into the garden, a forbidden place without
adult escort. There was a high fence in front, and a tall hedge on one
side and rear. In the rear of the garden was a tree shaped like an
umbrella. A table was built around the tree. All of this was surrounded
by elder bushes, forming a natural pagoda. We could not scale the
fence, so we went around it where the hedge separated our grounds
from the school teacher's next door. We went directly to the pagoda and
proceeded to debark the tree. We had done considerable damage
before we were discovered. The tree was saved by promptly pulling up
the bark and wrapping it. Dad wasn't at home, but my mother had called
the constable, and the Sword of Damocles hung over our heads. We
begged for pardon and mercy, and were forgiven and put on perpetual
probation."

Another story revolves around the way in which upper class Europeans
raised their children. Children were cared for by nannies or nurses, and
normally ate their meals separately from the adults. If the nanny gave a
good report on their behavior for the week, the children were permitted
to have Sunday dinner (about 1 p.m.) with their parents. The dinner took
place after church, and everyone would still be dressed in their "Sunday
best". Such dinners would be formal affairs, with the servants bringing
the plates and the father carving the main dish, usually smoked beef.
Children were not permitted to speak unless spoken to, and would eat
what they were served without exception. It seems that young Willem
had strong opinions about the foods he liked, and was bold enough to
make an issue of it! One Sunday he didn't like what he was served (roast
beef and a vegetable) and said so. When told he must eat everything on
his plate or go hungry, he sat and refused to eat. Finally, everyone was
finished except Willem. When he was again reprimanded, Willem threw
his plate toward his father and onto the floor.

After this insubordination, his father took Willem out to the smokehouse
and locked him in until he was ready to apologize. Although there were
no windows in the smokehouse, light was coming down the chimney, and
Willem took his punishment bravely. After some time it grew dark and
he became afraid, yet he remained stubborn. His mother came out and
convinced him to apologize, but when his father came out, Willem
refused. Again his mother visited, and Willem again agreed to apologize.
Once more his father came out, yet Willem still refused to apologize.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity in the dark (he guessed five hours),

- Childhood - page 8 -