Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-10-20


family, are daily sufferers by 1t. If you do
not correct the habit, it will be the cause of
incaculable evil to you through life. Many
battle on which hung the fate of an empire,
has been lost by some one being too late on
the ground. Many woman has lost the af-
fections of her husband, never to recover
them, by being too late. warn you, my
dear child, against the habit, for | SEE it
growing stronger daily, and unless you rally
at once against it, you will fnd yourself UNI
able to conquer it,.
Sophia burst into tears, for her father had
never spoken thus to her before, and rising
left the room, with determination to profit
by his advice. And again, for several days,
she struggled to be pnnctual TO her engage
ments; but now she found the efforts so
much harder than before she became discour-
aged, and after several VAN attempts TO con-
quer, she relapsed into her old Indifference,
and became the slave of habit.
AT eighteen Sophia was one of the most
beautiful girls of her native city, and her
hand was sought for by crowd of admirers.
or these she selected one every way worthy
of her. He was n young lawyer rapidly RI
sing to eninence, for his legal attanments
and eloquence we're both of IA superior or
der. He had long been the prize for which
numerous of her friends had commended, and
when Sophia found him at her feet natural
thrill of pride could not be avoided.
But it was from no selfish vanity that she
accepted him. His estimable qualities had
decpcned the impression whicI, his fine per-
son at first made on her, and she soon learn
ed TO love Waller Conrad with all the inten-
slty of won,an's first affection. She antici.
pated his slightest wish, and regulated her
conduct accordingly, and her opinions were
always moulded as she thought his would be
framed, for Sophia was one of those trusting
beings who give up all to the one they love,
satisfied that he should be their excmplar in
every thing.
Conrad returned her love with equal fer
vency. but with more discrimination. As
he became acquainted with her he saw ma
ny faults at which he grieved, bu, being of IA
sanguine nature he hoped that time and de.
sire TO please him would induce her to con.
qicr them. Nor was he wholly disappoint-
ed. Many of the slgIter beniscs on her
character disappeared under the kind culture
of her lover; but there was one fault which,
Conrad found for Il long time, abor,ive to re.
move. 1t was the fatal habit Of procras,ina.
ton.
Ii is true that Sophia made many resolute
''cmpts to conquer tins habit, bnt her chain.
L.d IL. m forged so strong, that she found the
,asL nf ,.o. ing them harder than ever
Uer o,d uoaL,o' constantly returned tt
h.r md ,I,on,h sI,. ~, ''inued her struggle
they finally grew weaker. ""''. ", "'''
| ,.,,tt, t.,.~ =.
king, and conscious of her lovers disap, w
: baton of the habit, she resorted TO every
mcaas to conceal it from his eye, so thai, at
length, Conrad began 10 hope that she was
cured of failing, as the slave of which, he
felt she could not continue to possess his re-
spcct, and with him respect was necessary TO
love.
One evening Conrad called on her an hour
after his usual time. 1t was bitter winter
night, and the snow was knee deep in ihe
streets, laying in drifts against the doors.
where the wind had piled it.
! am glad you have come said Sophia,
running to him to assist in taking off his
, cloak, for was afraid something had hap
: pened to you. Where have YOU been 2
have been, dearest he said, taking her
been wheeled up opposite to the fire, to see
? a poor girl, once INV laundrcss, who, fear,
, is dying, and dying too, in the mos, abiec,
. poverty. She broke blood vessel vester-
day, and is very dangerous, but with care she
may yet live, the physician says. There was
y no fire in the bare room when went there,
$ and the snow beating through the broken
= psnes had collected in pile at the foot of
r the he'd. Oh, it was ii miserable sight -
and he placed his hands before his eyes,
r At length he looked up and resumed, prom.
/, lse me you will 90 there to-morrow-carly
] -morrow--tor | said would send one to
@ see after all her wants, and you know that il
y would be more delicate for you to aid her
i than for me. Here is my purse-nay
must be the eiver in this case-only promise
e me TO go early, for the popr thing might per-
ish for want of necessary medicine and care
s | sent for wood to warm the chamber aud
n got poor neighbor to set up with her TO-
If night; but Tomorrow SIR must have better
e help. Alas what misery exists in our city
G aud almost at our doors = Yet how little dc
e we alleviate it,
I Sophia listened with tears TO this recital
IS and made the required promise. The low
r. ers continued for awhile to talk of the suae-
n rer, and then gradually passed to pleasanteI
: themes. In the indulgence ofthese we leave
= the,n.
The NEXT morning the storm ragged ferce'
c than ever. The wind howlcd along the
streets, the easement snCck. and the sno"
7, spun and Missed in the tempest. Sophia nae
f. not forgotten her promise, but looking ii; he'
d watch after breakfast and finding the hour
: early, she concluded to wait awhile for the
d subsistence Of the storm. Sitting down in
e her boudolr she took up new novel and was
S soon immersed in its pages. Hour alter hour
n passed away, and though she often thought
: of her promise and looked to the window tc
d see if the gale had abatcd, yet the tempest
o ragged so violently, the book was SO fascina.
If ting, and she thought the probability of any
@ harm ensuing from her delay so small, that
with her usual easy procras,na,ion, she con-
J, cuded to wait little longer, and SO contin'
It ued reading.
~ 4 laet ~, and xba torn