CHAP. X.—TOM HEARS ABOUT THE MARTYRS.

80 M’S mamma was sitting in front of the

L fire.

“Jump on my knee,” she said, as she used
to say when he was a very little boy. Then
she waited for him to speak; he had a great
deal to tell her.

“Mamma,” he began, “I never shall try
to make anyone happy again—it’s so uncom-
fortable. I have to forget myself; and I
can’t find out what they want unless I ask
them; and I can’t be always asking them,
you know.”

“You needn’t ask,” she answered. “You
may watch and see.”

“ But,” said Tom, quickly, “I can’t always
be thinking of other people. I want to please
myself. I don’t want to forget myself.”