very odd way of describing it, for I am sure they had often no heart
in the matter, unless it was a hearty dislike.

"'Tommy Brown in the village never learns any lessons,' cried one of
them once to the creature who was teaching him, 'why should I? He is
always playing at oyster-dishes in the gutter when I see him, and
enjoying himself. I wish _I_ might enjoy myself!'

"Poor Victim! He little thought what a tiresome lecture this clever
remark of his would bring on his devoted head!

"Don't ask me to repeat it. It amounted merely to this, that twenty
years hence he would he very glad he had learnt something else
besides making oyster-dishes in the streets. As if that signified to
him now! As if it took away the nuisance of having to learn at the
present moment, to be told it would be of use hereafter! What was
the use of its being of use by-and-by?

"So thought the little Victim, young as he was; so, said he, in a
muttering voice:-

"'I don't care about twenty years hence; I want to be happy now!'

"This was unanswerable, as you may suppose; so the puzzled teacher
didn't attempt to make a reply, but said:-

"'Go on with your lessons, you foolish little boy!'

"See what it is to be obstinate," pursued Aunt Judy. "See how it
blinds people's eyes, and prevents them from knowing right from