My father would watch me at my play, and, when he saw me flagging, encourage me to persevere in whatever I was about, striving to rouse my emulation by pitting me against my playmates.

For a time this had a good effect; but my father had something better to do than always preside at our nursery sports, and I soon relapsed into my old habits.
My mother would talk and tell stories to us; and always, whenever my attention began to fail, would recall me to order by questions or direct appeals.

This, too, as long as it was fresh, acted well; but I soon got used to it, and was as bad as ever.

Indeed, I was a confirmed dawdler almost before I was able to think or act for myself.
When I was eight, it was decided to send me and Jim to school--a day school, near home, presided over by a good lady, and attended by some dozen other boys.

Well, the novelty of the thing pleased me at first, and I took an interest in my spelling and arithmetic, so that very soon I was at the top of my class.