Two years later he permanently injured his left eye, showing the
cat how to carry kittens without hurting them, and about the same
period was dangerously stung by a bee while conveying it from a
flower where, as it seemed to him, it was only wasting its time, to
one more rich in honey-making properties.
His desire was always to help others. He would spend whole
mornings explaining to elderly hens how to hatch eggs, and would
give up an afternoon's black-berrying to sit at home and crack nuts
for his pet squirrel. Before he was seven he would argue with his
mother upon the management of children, and reprove his father for
the way he was bringing him up.
As a child nothing could afford him greater delight than "minding"
other children, or them less. He would take upon himself this
harassing duty entirely of his own accord, without hope of reward
or gratitude. It was immaterial to him whether the other children
were older than himself or younger, stronger or weaker, whenever
and wherever he found them he set to work to "mind" them. Once,
during a school treat, piteous cries were heard coming from a
distant part of the wood, and upon search being made, he was
discovered prone upon the ground, with a cousin of his, a boy twice
his own weight, sitting upon him and steadily whacking him.
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