But drinking is a more serious thing , and leads to worse harm than any that can afflict your body alone . I hear you talk about wines as if you knew them and cared more for them than a boy should ; and several times I 've heard jokes that meant mischief . For heaven 's sake , do n't begin to play with this dangerous taste `` for fun '' , as you say , or because it 's the fashion , and the other fellows do . Stop at once , and learn that temperance in all things is the only safe rule . ' ` Upon my honour , I only take wine and iron . I need a tonic , mother says , 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 any tonic of that sort . Work and plain fare are what you want ; and I wish I 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 five meals a day . What an absurd hand that is for a man ! You ought to be ashamed of it ! ' And Mrs Jo caught up the plump fist , with deep dimples at each knuckle , which was fumbling distressfully at the buckle of the belt girt about a waist far too large for a youth of his age . ' I ca n't help it -- we all grow fat ; it 's in the family , ' said Stuffy in self-defence . ` All the more reason you should live carefully . Do you want to die early , or be an invalid all your life ? ' ` No , ma'am ! ' Stuffy looked so scared that Mrs Jo could not be hard upon his budding sins , for they lay at his overindulgent mother 's door line in a 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 was small enough to pilfer lumps of sugar from her bowl : ` Then be careful ; for a man writes his character in his face ; and you do n't want gluttony and intemperance in yours , I know . ' ` I 'm sure I do n't ! Please make out a wholesome bill of fare , and I 'll stick to it , if I can . I am getting stout , and I do n't like it ; and my liver 's torpid , and I have palpitations and headache .
Overwork , mother XXXXX ; but it may be overeating . '
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