[CHAPTER II.]
MAURICE'S TOOTHACHE.
MRS. SEYTON did not expect that her son would conquer his old habit in a day, nor a week. She truly rejoiced that he had learned even by one day's experience the pleasure and reward of "patient continuance in well doing;" and she encouraged him by every means in her power. Before the close of the week, however, he began to return to his old habit, repeating over and over again, in querulous tones,—
"It's so hard, mamma, I can't learn it. Mamma, this name isn't on the map."
"Have you looked thoroughly?"
"I think I have; but the print is so fine."
Or he would declare half-a-dozen times,—
"I've learned it, mamma; will you please hear me, and let me go and play?"
When the truth was, that he had not given the lesson one moment of real, patient study.
A few weeks after this, Maurice came to his mamma's chamber in the middle of the night, crying with the toothache.