"H-o-l-l-y, holly," he went on. "Is that holly that grows on trees?"
"Yes, my dear, it is a small tree or rather shrub."
"I can say my lesson now, mamma." He held out the book.
"Can you spell the word patience?"
"That isn't in my lesson."
"I'm afraid not."
"Why do you say afraid, mamma?"
"Because I want very much that you should learn the meaning of the word; and then perhaps you would try to practise it. Now spell after me, p-a-t-i-e-n-c-e."
"It's hard to remember," he said, with a blush.
"Now for the meaning, Maurice. This morning it meant, 'try, try again to untie your shoe.' Now it means 'study over and over your lesson, not allowing yourself to be weary or diverted from your book, until you have learned it thoroughly.' The Bible speaks of 'patient continuance in well-doing,' and tells us to 'let patience have her perfect work.'"