Mr. Seyton had been in the habit, ever since the accident to his little favorite, of giving twenty-five dollars a year toward her support. He now with great cheerfulness, doubled this contribution to enable her to have a skilful physician from the city to consult upon her case. The effect of the new treatment was most favorable.
Even in the few weeks before they left F—, Mrs. Seyton could perceive a change for the better; and by the time they came to the country the next year, the improvement was very marked.
But before I go on to state what happened the next summer, I must tell you how Mr. and Mrs. Seyton were paid for all they had done for poor Kitty.
In the winter Maurice was taken sick; and the doctor said he had scarlet-fever. He suffered greatly at times with his throat, and afterwards with his eyes, being obliged to stay in a darkened room, but he never once complained. Of course, he used to long to be well; and both he and his parents earnestly prayed that he might be so; but he never gave way to his old habit.
Once at midnight, when his father was giving him some medicine, he said, tenderly,—
"My darling, patient boy!"
It was very painful for Maurice to speak; but he tried to articulate the words,—
"Am I patient, papa? I'm trying to be. Kitty says, 'that's the way to please Jesus.'"
He referred to it again in the morning, and asked his mamma to read the verse about being patient in tribulation.
"Kitty told me what it meant," he said. "I'm in tribulation now, and I pray to God to help me bear it, as he does her."