Disclaimer: I do not own GAKUEN ALICE!!
The workhouse boy
1.Meet Natsume Hyuuga
Natsume Hyuuga was born in a workhouse. His mother died the same night that he was born. She was a total stranger to the people of the workhouse.
Even a reward of ten pounds that was offered by the workhouse management brought no information as to the names of the child's father and mother.
Mrs. Mann took care of the young children of the workhouse in her house till they were nine years old. When Mr. Bumble, the workhouse agent, brought the child to her, she asked him, "How did you come to know his name was Natsume Hyuuga?"
Mr. Bumble looked at her with great dignity and said:" I myself gave the name. it is I who find names for all the children born in the workhouse. Of course, I followed the alphabetical order. The last one was names Gonzo; so this one becomes Hyuuga. I worked through the alphabet this way down to Z, and then start over again from A." "I know that you are a learned man," remarked Mrs. Mann.
At the age of nine, Natsume was mercifully freed from Mrs. Mann's household. The child had never heard from him a kind word while it stayed in that house. The change to the workhouse proved even worse for him.
The members of the board of management were old and experienced men. They knew how to deal with poor children. They did not want to compel anybody against his wishes. It was entirely left to the children's choice whether they should starve to death quickly outside the workhouse or die of slow starvation inside it. The children were fed upon a small glass of thin gruel three times a day. This was charity indeed!
The new system of gruel distribution had brought into existence six months ago. It is well known fact that boys, as a rule, have enormous appetite. They have to eat a lot to grow fast. No wonder, therefore, that all the boys were suffering greatly from the pangs of hunger. One little fellow who had come from a cook-shop whispered to his companions how desperate his condition was.
"I cannot hold out much longer" said he. "If something is not done about it, I am afraid; I may have to eat the small boy who sleeps next to me."
The boys were so frightened that they held a council among themselves as to what should be done. Lots were drawn and it fell to Natsume Hyuuga to approach the authorities in the matter.
The evening came; the boys took their places as usual. The master wearing the uniform of the cook stood beside the big copper vessel to serve out the gruel. Before this a prayer was said thanking for their daily bread they gave them. The bread was imaginary, but the gruel was real. The quantity was miserably poor, so poor that the boys looked like hungry wolves. After the gruel had vanished down
their throats, the boys looked at each other, and then at Natsume. Natsume cleared his throat, came forward with his basin and spoon to the master.
"Please, sir I want some more." The master had the shock of his life. He dropped his big spoon and stared at the boy, as if he was seeing a ghost. This was more than a request; it was a revolution.
"What?" thundered the master?
"Please, sir, "cried the others, tears coming into their eyes," we want some more."
The master threw the wooden spoon at the boy's head and twisted his arm. At the same time he shouted like a mad man at Mr. Bumble.
Mr. Bumble threw himself into the room the Board of Management was sitting. Fixing the chairman with his eye, he cried, "Mr. Limpkins, sir, I beg your pardon! Natsume Hyuuga has asked for more gruel!" this was something unheard of. There was terror on the faces of the members of the Board.
"For more?" said the chairman in a feeble voice." Mr. Bumble, don't agitate yourself. Tell me clearly what had happened. Did h really ask for more after he had eaten his supper?" Supper indeed!
"He did sir." replied Bumble.
"I am sure that the boy will be hung someday," said one of the gentlemen present.
Everybody seemed to agree. Natsume was to be kept alone in a room. Next day, a notice was put up on the workhouse gate. It was an offer of a reward of five pounds to anyone who would take Natsume Hyuuga off their hands. A chimney sweep was the first to answer the public notice.
The God fearing gentlemen who sat on the Board considered the question deeply.
"This is a trade unsuitable for a boy," said the chairman.
"Some boys have been choked to death in the chimneys," said another.
But Mr. Gamfield, the chimney-sweep, who came forward with the offer, said that he knew how to bring the boys down if they got stuck in the chimney. He would roast their legs by lighting a fire underneath to make them come down quickly. The Board thought that this was a very good plan, and it was agreed that Mr. Gamfield should have the boy, with three pounds ten shillings as a reward.
But the magistrates, who were also members of the Board, and had the last word in the matter, declined to give their consent. Finally Mr. Jinno an undertaker got the boy to be his assistant .but his harshness drove Natsume off his house not before long. Early one morning he found himself on the road to London which was seventy miles off. He bade farewell to all the cruel Bumbles and Jinnos once and for all.
Authors Notes:Forgive me if there are some mistakes. I cannot post very soon because my exams sre going on. I will try to post soon. So don't forget your reviews and please do point out my mistakes. Sorry aswell as THANK YOU ALL!!