END
OF TERM
A renowned English writer and critic, David Daiches, write “End of Term”. This is an autobiographical essay in which the author recalls the days of his school life. He expresses his feelings and memories regarding the holidays while criticizing the rigorous and boring school system. He frankly talks about his poverty and describes those desires that remained unfulfilled. The writer possesses a remarkable memory and tells even the minutes detail of by-gone days.
The writer refers to a book written by a schoolteacher entitled “Friday
Thank God.” The author experienced the same feelings about the weekend in his
school days he could not have spare time for relaxation because of machine-like
routine, excessive homework and ever-present competition. For him, Monday
morning used to be dismal experience as there was no escape from school. The
author says that he with his brother Lionel used to sleep in bedroom and his
sister in the other. There was a maid in the house of the writer who used to
come in the bedroom and announced in a typical tone to get up without
considering the author’s desire for and extra doze. For Daiches, the maid
steps were ominous and her voice was like the call for damnation. At last, he
was able to get rid of this routine as he bade good-bye to school life and
entered he university.
The author says that he felt much pleasure on Friday as it was followed
by a couple of holidays. He walked towards home in the afternoon as if he was an
escaped prisoner. Friday night was the best night of the week and the Saturday
night was an escaped prisoner. Friday night was the bet night of the week and
the Sunday night was also pleasant. Sunday night was the end of his happiness as
it was followed by a weeklong packed programe. Sometime unscheduled breaks were
a great blessing for him as those brought the message of happiness. For
instance, a half-holiday due to some unexpected crisis or celebration or to
witness a football match. In winter when there was frost for some days, a whole
day was allowed for skating holiday. Once in a term, he had the annual mid-term
holiday, a Monday off, which made the luxuriously long weekend. The writer says
that there used to be three terms in an academic year. The first ended in
Christmas holidays, the second in Easter and the third term in summer holidays.
According to the writer, the real holidays were the summer vacations
spreader over duration of two months. The say the school closed, the writer made
his way to home with a sense of ever-jesting happiness. He walked through the
grass fields hardly believing that three long and tiresome terms had ended.
Those were the longed for and dreamed of holidays towards which the whole year
seemed to move.
The write tells that the wishes of his childhood often remained
unfulfilled. For instance, in his childhood he wished to have a tricycle but his
parents could not afford. He wished to have a bicycle when he grew up but again
there was disappointment for him. He could only get it at the age of twenty with
his prize money that he won at Edinburgh University. He often stood neat sweet
shops and ice-cream barrows with empty pockets. He watched the people to enjoy
the eatables and wondered whether the ice-cream man would be miraculously
inspired to offer him some ice cream, but it never happened. He says that he had
to save his pocket money and nothing was left with him to spend.
At last, the summer holidays did come. The school year ended. The day came when he was free from the school to make journey by train to ho to his village accompanied by his family.
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