long
as I lived."

"Did you tell anybody?" asked Hugh.

12. "No, I was ashamed to do that; but I remember I cried. You see how it
turns out. When we have become accustomed to anything, we do it without
ever thinking of the trouble, and, as the old fable tells us, the clock
that has to tick so many millions of times, has exactly the same number of
seconds to do it in. So will you find that you can move about on each
separate occasion, as you wish, and practice will enable you to do it
without any trouble or thought."

"But this is not all, nor half what I mean," said Hugh.

13. "No, my dear, nor half what you will have to bear. You resolved to
bear it all patiently, I remember. But what is it you dread the most?"

"Oh! all manner of things. I can never do like other people."

"Some things," replied his mother. "You can never play cricket, as every
Crofton boy would like to do. You can never dance at your sister's
Christmas parties."

14. "O mamma!" cried Agnes, with tears in her eyes, and with the thought
in her mind that it was cruel to talk so.

"Go on! Go on!" cried Hugh, brightening. "You know what I feel, mother;
and you don't keep telling me, as others do, and even sister Agnes,
sometimes, that it will not signify much, and that I shall not care, and
all that; making out that it is no misfortune, hardly, when I know what it
is, and they don't. Now, then, go on, mother! What else?"

15. "There will be little checks and mortifications continually, when you
see little boys leaping over this, and climbing that, and playing at the
other, while you must stand out, and can only look on. And some people
will pity you in a way you will not like: and some may even laugh at you."

"O mamma!" exclaimed Agnes.

"Well, and what else?" said Hugh.

16. "Sooner or later you will have to follow some way of life determined
by this accident instead of one that you would have liked better."

"Well, what else?"

"I must ask you, now. I can think of nothing more; and I hope there is not
much else; for, indeed, I think here is quite enough for a boy, or anyone
else, to bear."

"I will bear it though; you will see."

17. "You will find great helps. These misfortunes of themselves strengthen
one's mind. They have some advantages too. You will be a better scholar
for your lameness, I have no doubt. You will read more books, and have a
mind richer in thoughts. You will be more beloved by us all, and you
yourself will love