But I could not teach him to sing, and it was a great sorrow to me.

I often tried and he tried, but I saw that it wasn't going to pay.

He couldn't make the right kind of a noise.

Through all this I did not neglect his morals.

If he said an improper word--and I regret to say that he did now and then--I promptly corrected him and reported his conduct to Aunt Deel, and if she was inclined to be too severe I took his part and, now and then, got snapped on the forehead for the vigor of my defense.