Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-09-03
1!riterarp.
Tho Late, or the Force Of Habit.
BY EMILY IT. MAY.

your musical lesson! 1t is now half past min
and you have several squares to walk"
40! there is plenty time" answered Sophia, "
can get ready in five minutes, and walk to Signc
Tencellis in five minutes more"
$50 you said on Monday, when you were to
late. Indeed, l fear, Sophia, you are contractin
habit of procrastination which will be fruitful
cause of sorrow to you through life. Never pu
off till tomorrow what can be done to-day is al
excellent proyerb, but would amend it by addin!
'and never delay minute in doing what has t.
be DONE Do put down that novel, my love, ant
go and attire Yourself"
Sophia reluctantly obeyed, and left the room
But when she reached her chamber instead oI
donnng her bonnet and shawl she threw herself
pettishy in chair
81 do wish ma would not lecture one So" she
said. "She is always talking about my being too
late. One would think father was bank clerk,
she has such regard to punctuality. Now
for spite IL not 20 to Signor Tenceli's till too
late"
Butwhen few minutes had cooled her passion,
Sophia felt ashamed of her conduct for she was
| X
tire herself, resolved to be at Sgnor Tencelli's
in time. Her delay however had been fatal
! Though she almost ran through the streets and
arrived too late, and the Signor, who made point
of never waiting minute, had gone out.
"Sophy." said her father to her few days af-
terward there is nothing for me to do in town un-
til Monday; so / have q notion of running into
thn co,utry .hn rast of tba ,UoaI AnJ
lily the steamboat is to make an excursion to-day,
and will en- route at ElmsdaIe This is q chance
that won't occur again this season, to see your
friends the WyvIes The boat starts at four
| shall have to return to the counting room for an
hour after elmer, but you can get ready and meet
me at the boat. John will attend you down.
"yery WE'LL" said Sophia, delighted at the pro-
posal, 81 will be there in time"
She fastened up stairs to prepare herself and,
after packing her dresses, opened her little casket
to select the jewels she should wear. She took
up two bracelets of different patterns, tried each
Of them on, and held them in different lights be-
fore she could make up her mind which to take
Then she as long while in selecting three out
OF her dozen rings, the gifts of her fond parents
and godmothers. In this occupation the time slip
ped away so rapidly that the clock was on the
chime of four before she became aware Of her
idlpness. Itwu then toe late; and she sat down
and wept bitterly.
For fortnight The lesson did Sophia good, aHd
she was pattern of punctuality. But gradually
her old habits revived, she became as careless as
ever, and on every occasion was too late. Her
mother reasoned with her in vain, and at length
her father spoke seriously to her on the subject.
''Sophia,' he said one evening, several days af-
ter he had requested her to purchase a certain
scarce fabric of summer wear for him, which was
in the market but which she had delayed going
for until twas all sold, ''your want of punctuali-
ty is intolerable Your mother and /, and indeed
the whole family are daily sufferers BY it. If you
do not correct the habit it will be the cause of in
calculabe evil to you through life. Many bat
tie, on which hung the fate of an empire, has
been lost by some one being too Ia on the ground
Many a woman has lost the affections of Il hus-
band, never to recover them, by being too late
warn you, my dear child against the habit, for
Isee it growing stronger daily, and unless you
rally at once against it, YOU will find yourself in
capable of conquering it,"
Sophy burst into tears for her father had never
spoken thus to her before, and rising left the room
with a determination to profit by his advice
And again, for several days she struggled to be
punctual in her engagements, but now she found
the effort so much harder than before, that she
became discouraged, & after several vain attempts
to conquer, relapsed into her cd Indifference and
became the slave of her habit.
At eighteen Sophia was one of the most bcauti-
ful girls of her native city and her hand was sought
for by crowd Of admirers. OF these she selected
one every way worthy of her. lie was young
lawyer rapidly rising to eminence, for his legal at
tainments and eloquence were both of superior
order. lie had long been the prize of which num-
erous of her friends contended, and when Sophia
found him at her feet a natural thrill of pride
could not be avoided.
Bat it was from no selfish vanity that she ac
cepted him. His estimable qualities had deepcncd
the impression which his fine person at first made
on her. and she soon learned to love Walter Con
rad with all the intensity of womans first affection
She anticipated his slightest wish and regulated
her conduct accordingly, and her opinions were al
WAYS 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 exemplar in everything.
Conrad returned her Ioyc with equal fcrvcncy /
but with more discrimination. As he became bet
ter acquainted with her he saw many faults at which
he grieved but Of a sanguire nature he hoped that
time and desire to please him would induce her to
conquer them.
Nor was he wholly disappointed. Many Of the
slightest hlemishcs on her character disappeared |
under the kind culture of her lover; but there was
one fault which Conrad found. for long time, all
his efforts abortiye TO remove. 1t was the fatal
habit of procrastination.
1t is true that Sophia made many resolate al
tempts TO conquer this habit but her chains had
been forged so strong that she found the task of |
breaEing ihcm more difficult than ever. Her old |
weakness constantly returncl to her. and though !
she continued her struggles, they finally grew weak
or.
Unable or unwilling to perscvere in the arduous !
undertaking. and conscious OF her lovers disappro-
baion Of the habit, she reSorted to every means to
conceal it from his eye, SO that at length, Conrad
began 10 hope that she was cured Of a feeling. as /
the slave Of which he felt. she could not continue
tO possess lis respect AMI with him yesrcct ,vo,