122.
You will have noticed that there is always moisture in your mouth. Where
do you think it comes from? Perhaps you did not know that there were
six tiny fountains in your mouth, two on each side the tongue, and one
in each cheek. When you are well these little fountains pour out the
fluid which keeps your mouth so nice and moist. Sometimes when people
are ill the little fountains do not flow, and the mouth is all dry and
parched, and they are longing to drink all the time.
The fluid that comes from the tiny wells is called saliva, and, when we
eat, it mixes with the food in the mouth, and goes down with it into the
stomach. But this is what I want you to learn, the saliva is never to be
sent out of the mouth in the way that is called "spitting" (an ugly
word, is it not?), and you must remember never to do this, not even when
you are cleaning your slate. You may breathe on your slate, and rub it
dry with your slate rag, though that is not a very nice way. The best
plan of all is to have a damp sponge, as well as a slate rag, and a
well-mannered child would have both.
If there is anything in your mouth that needs to come away, take it out
with your pocket-handkerchief, and remember that the proper way is to
(Blackboard)
Clean your Slate with a Damp Sponge, and Dry with a Slate
Rag, not with a Pocket-handkerchief.