Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-04-27
Annie's Fault.
A sketch for Young Girls.
BY Mns. II. 2. sTARRETT.

cation. She is about sixteen years of age
an age at which so many young girls are gid
dy and thoughtless-yet Annie is regarded
by the ladies Of the church as a model wor-
thy Of imitation by their daughters At the
age Of thirteen She became a member Of the
church, aud has ever since lived a beautiful
christian life Though pretty, she is not vain;
her dress at all times exhibits delicacy and
good taste, yet she carefully avoids even the
appearance Of extravaganza or fashionable
folly. She knows she is popular and beloved,
yet she never presumes upon her position or
allows it TO make her careless of the feelings
Of others. The poor Of the congregation
those who are obliged to wear old-fashioned
and shabby clothes, and who often feel abash-
ed and awkward in the presence of the edu-
Gated aud well-drcssod-regard her as their
especial friend and she seems to have the
happy faculty Of conversing with them and
making them feel at ease with her without
any appearance Of condescenson. Indeed,
in many respects, Annie Spencer is the most
lovely girl | ever knew.
But she has one fault, known only to her
most intimate friends, that sadly mars her
otherwise almost perfect character and often
inAicts upon those around her q great deal Of
pain and vexation This fault her mother
complains Of as " Annie's carelessness."
have often heard her mother gently reproye
her for it, and Annie would reply, Oh dear
mother, ! am very sorry, but you know am
so absent miadea.' Evidently, Annie thinks
" absent mindedaess' is very slight fault
or perhaps not fault at all. II She were
convinced that it is a grave fault, and real
lied how much vexation she causes her friend.
by it, | believe she would at once set about
to overcome it.
Last spring Mr.. and Mrs. Spencer went tc
Portland on a visit, and as they did not wish
to take Annie out Of school they proposed to
send her to board during the period of their
visit, in the Institution where she was attend
ing school. Hearing this, went over to
their house Immediately to beg that she might
come and spend the time at our house instead
Annie seemed delighted with the proposition,
and her parents gladly acceded to it, So the
day her parents left, Annie came from schoo
directly to our house, bringing her school
books and music We had delightful chat
together until tea was ready; for Annie is Sc
mature and womanly that it is a real pleasure
to talk with her. After tea l said
Now, Annie must go to the nursery and
put the children to bed, and you must prac-
tice your music lesson and study Just a,
though you were at home. You can 90 to
the parlor, and when you are through prac-
ticing come up to the nursery"
From the nursery | could plainly hear her
as she faithfully and conscienctously played
over the long and difficult arrangements O
scales and exercises. Then she began to plal
her pieces, and very exquisitely did she per
form them. thoughtto myself that Annie
conscientiousnesse extended even to the practice
of her music and helped to make her the beau
tifui performer on the piano that she was
The children were asleep, so that quietnes,
reigned and it afforded me unalloyed pleas
ure to listen to the " Whispering Wind,
" Thalberg's Sweet Home, the " Last Hope,
and various beautiful operatic oyertures, a
her skilful aud trained fingers few over tn
keys. When she had finished practicing sh
came up stairs, and another hour of pleasan
conversation, before she went to her room Il
study her lessons, only confirmed my opinion
that Annie Spencer was a girl Of remarkable
intelligence and loyeliness.
The next morning whenl came down stair
was little surprised to find the parlor doc
standing wide open, and the piano open an,
strewn from one end to the other with mis-
placed music | tried to gather up the musi
in order to close the piano, but it was in sucl
ineXtricable confusion that | was obliged 4
reinquish the attempt | could but motto
that the music had crumpled, soiled look
quite out of keeping with Annies lady lik
ways, and appeared to have been subjected
to a long course of neglect and misuse. An
ME never thought of her music until she wa
just leaving for school, The bell was ringing
and she had not a moment to spare. Sh
rushed into the paror, and exclaiming agains
herself for her carelessness as she saw its dis
ordered condition, she gathered it up as bes
she could and FASTENED on Parlor and hal
door were both left standing wide open, and
as watchful eyes were for few moment
averted, little Katie, the baby, toddled to tn,
front door, and before any one had observe,
her, she made a misstep and rolled down tn
front steps, Fortunately she was more fright
ened than hurt but as | tried to s0othe her
and before | had satisfied myself that she wa
indeed unhurt, exclaimed "This result
from Annies carelessness."
But this incident did not prevent me from
being very glad to see Annie when she return
cd in the evening Yet | was again remind
ed of her fault when, going down to tea,
stumbled and nearly feel over her schoo
books piled up on the stairs Again as in tn
morning did Annie accuse herself of careless
ness, but with the tone and manner of ont
who feels that mere confession is sufficien
atonement for the fault.
The next evening Annie went directly int
the parlor, when she returned from school
and opened the piano to try some new mu
sic. So engrossed was she that she playe,
till the tea bell rang. While we were at tea
we were called from the table to the parlo
to receive some friends whom we esteemed
very highly. The first glance at the parlo
showed me Annie's overshoes at one side o
the fire place, her umbrela-for it was rain.
weather-upon the other side, her hat on on
chair, her scarf and gloves on another, hei
cloak on the sofa and her books piled in th
rocking chair. A general picking up o
these things seemed necessary in order to sea
my friends, while the air Of confusion ant
disorder which the parlor wore detracte(
from my enjoyment Of the call in no smal
degree more especially as knew my friend
to be fastdious housekeepers.
cannot begin to enumerate the man.
ways in which this fault of Anuie's annoyeC
me until, at the end of ten days, | began h
feel perfectly willing to have the visit COM
to an end. She always forgot to shut tn
doors after her, and, though | gently remind
ed her of the neglect, nearly always left tn
piano open. There was scarcely room II
the house in which one might nat find som
article Of Annies, She would pick up thin
BILE, or scissors, or spool, and carry them Of
to her room, forgetting alike to ask me TO
the loan of them, and to bring them bacl