There was once a little brownie who had a toothache that had been bothering him for quite some time. He knew perfectly well he should go to the dentist — but, like many creatures large and small, he dreaded the very thought of it.
He put it off for days. He put it off for weeks. And then one afternoon the toothache became so painful that he simply could not stand it another moment. He set off at once for the brownie dentist’s office.
The dentist was a clever one, and a kind one, and a remarkably gentle one. He sat the little brownie down, picked up his instruments, and got to work. A moment passed, then another.
“Well,” said Dr. Brownie cheerfully, “here’s the old toothache.”
The little brownie blinked. “What — my tooth is already out?”
“It is indeed.”
“And to think,” said the brownie slowly, looking at the tooth in the dentist’s hand, “of all I’ve suffered before I came to you.”
