What an accumulation of evils in this little scene! His health injured--his promises broken with impunity--his mother's promises broken--the knowledge gained that he could always vex her when she was in a hurry--and that he could gain what he would by teasing.

He always acted upon the same plan afterward; for he only once in a while (when he made his mother very angry) got a whipping; but he was _always_ sure to obtain what he asked for, if he teased her long enough.

His mother told him the plain truth, when she said the mince-pie would hurt him; but he did not know whether it was the truth, or whether she only said it to put him off; for he knew that she did sometimes deceive.

When she gave him the pie, he had reason to suppose it was not true it would hurt him--else why should a kind mother give it to her child?
Had she told him that if he asked a second time, she would put him to bed directly--and had she kept her promise, in spite of entreaties--she would have saved him a whipping, and herself a great deal of unnecessary trouble.

And who can calculate all the whippings, and all the trouble, she would have spared herself and him?
I do not remember ever being in her house half a day without witnessing some scene of contention with the children.
"Now let me introduce you to another acquaintance.