He had a short and easy way of getting rid of garments that he disliked.
Somehow other they were sure to waste away in a much faster manner than those he had a fancy for; or, perhaps they would be rendered suddenly useless, by some mysterious accident.

But he would never admit that their period of usefulness had been purposely shortened, though suspicions of this kind were occasionally hinted.
Soon after this, Mr.Preston entered the room, and took a seat by the fire He pulled out his watch to wind it up, as was his custom just before bed-time, when Oscar said: "Father, I wish you would buy me a watch.

Frank King, and Bill Andrews, and Charlie Grant, and almost all the large boys that I know, have got watches, and I should think I might have one too; why can't I, father ?" "What do they do with watches ?" inquired Mr.Preston.
"Why, what does anybody do with them?
They carry them to tell the time of day, of course," replied Oscar.
"And to make a display of watch-chain," added his father.
"No, that isn't it," replied Oscar; "but it's convenient to have a watch with you.

You don't know how I 'm plagued to tell what time it is, sometimes.

It would make me a good deal more punctual, if I had one.