Madeline Leslie

“ MAURICE had stood during the whole interview, his eyes fastened on the sick girl, fascinated by her sweet smile, and low-spoken words, and at last, when she turned to him and asked,—
"Are you the kind boy who brought me a dinner of strawberries?"
He blushed with pleasure.
As nothing was said about the dressing-gown, Mrs. Seyton did not allude to it, and, fearing to fatigue Kitty, soon rose to leave.
"I'm so glad you've come early this year," murmured the invalid. "It'll be so nice to have you run in every day as you used to." ”

“ It is a favor to me, Kitty, to be with you. We settled that last year, you remember; and Maurice, I'm sure, will love to run of errands for you."
The little fellow scarcely spoke all the way home. What do you suppose he was thinking of? Why, he was wondering how much worse Kitty's pain was than his toothache; and whether she ever had that, and how she learned to bear all her sufferings so patiently. He wondered, too, whether she had to study and do sums. As she lay in the bed she did not look much taller than he, and mamma said she was not a woman but a girl. ”

“ Early in the summer he went with his mamma to the country to spend three months with grandma and grandpa Seyton.
Papa's business kept him in the city, but he came down to F— every Saturday night, and promised to try hard for a two weeks' vacation in August.
Almost the first question Mrs. Seyton asked was,—
"How is Kitty Maynard?"
"About the same," was grandma's answer. "She has convulsions nearly every day; but she's the most patient, cheerful creature I ever heard of."
"Who is Kitty Maynard, mamma? And what is the matter with her?" ”

“ There's nice reading in them about birds and beasts. Mamma read some of it to me."
Mr. Seyton thought his son old enough this year to go to the public school. There was, just over the hill, a little red school-house, the very one in which he had learned his letters years ago, and now, he introduced his son to the teacher, remarking, playfully,—
"My wife says I've turned out so well, she wants Maurice to commence his education here where I did."
"I'll do my best for him," answered the teacher, in the same tone; "and hope the boy may become as good a man as his father." ”

“ Maurice shyly gave his hand.
"I am sorry to see you so feeble and languid," began the lady.
"I am seldom so weak as to-day. I have had a comfortable winter on the whole, and so many blessings." These words were uttered with great emphasis, and with a smile.
"God is so merciful," the dear girl went on, "whenever I have worse spasms than usual, he gives me patience to endure them."
"That I am sure of," was Mrs. Seyton's tearful reply.
"And then he raises up so many friends for me. Sometimes, in the night, I lie and think of all he has done for me during the past nine years ”

“ Paul tells us about it."
"Is this the place, Kitty? 'Now we exhort you.'"
"Yes; that means, we 'beg or beseech you.'"
"'Be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil, but ever follow that which is good.'"
Mrs. Seyton was not much surprised to see Maurice come bounding into the yard, his face as smiling as ever. He had resolved to try and banish all resentment toward his companion, all hard thoughts of his teacher, and endeavor to please God by bearing patiently the reproach cast upon him. ”

“ Little things often vexed me. I watched Kitty day by day, bearing her sufferings without a murmur; happy through them all; thanking her Heavenly Father for every moment that she was free from pain. Do you think I could help trying to be patient under my trifling annoyances?"
"Does Kitty have the toothache?" asked Maurice.
"I don't know. Her agony is so much worse than toothache, I don't suppose she would notice it much."
CHAPTER VII. MAURICE LEARNING PATIENCE.
THE visits of Maurice to the cottage were not always as sad as his first one had been. ”

“ And all the time not a lisp of complaint or impatience."
"Her happy disposition makes her an object of envy," remarked Maurice's mamma.
"'Tisn't her happy disposition," urged grandpa, coming into the room time enough to hear the last words. "That is, if you're speaking of Kitty Maynard, though, no doubt, a cheerful, even temper does help people to go through trouble. ”

“ At first the little fellow did not enjoy the company of so many boys, but, after a few days' acquaintance, grew to be delighted with the new arrangements. When he came home, he would talk by the hour about the lessons, and how near the head he was, and what fun they had playing tag at recess, and how Bob Munger was going to make a kite that would fly a mile right up into the sky, and how the boys were going to give him all the string they could find. ”

“ The tears came right into my eyes.
"What makes you look so fiery red?" whispered Jimmy Barnard; but I wouldn't answer, because that would be breaking the rules, you know.
"Teacher asked whoever played him such a vile trick, to get up and confess, and he'd forgive them; but nobody moved. The worst of all is," added Maurice, with a burst of tears, "that Jimmy went up to the teacher at recess, and told him he'd seen me around there before school commenced and he guessed I did it; when I wouldn't do such a thing for ever so much money."
"Of course not,—I knew you wouldn't," said Kitty, soothingly ”

“ Every lesson that morning was well learned, and the boy who usually dragged away the whole day at his studies, to his mother's great annoyance, now fairly earned the right to a long recess.
All in the family, from Cook in the kitchen, to Tom the stable-boy, knew by Maurice's bright, happy face, that something unusual had happened, and rejoiced with him in his efforts to learn patience.
CHAPTER II. MAURICE'S TOOTHACHE.
MRS. SEYTON did not expect that her son would conquer his old habit in a day, nor a week. ”

“ He must learn to be patient in conquering these little difficulties, else how will he ever get through the great ones, he will certainly meet in life."
"Come, Maurice, I'm quite ashamed that a boy nearly five years old should sit moping on the floor, when one minute of patient effort would untie your shoe. Nurse, has Cook carried in the coffee and muffins yet?"
"Oh, mamma! Are there muffins for breakfast?"
"Not for tardy boys, certainly. However, I will allow you five minutes to finish your dressing ”