National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-06-21
just toe Late.

WHICH iiN iliIn BTtUt foOiiit DDNh
think that one bad habit does not mat.
ter much but that IL quite a mistake
it is often enough to spoil what would
, otherwise by very good character, as
it did in the case of Arthur Brown.
He was in the habit of getting just too
late.
lie was You see the unpunctual boy.
He was not prompt in what he did he
was always allowing himself to be be-
I hind.
There is plenty of time, y he used to
say but he never seemed to have
enough Of it, and il was because he push
ed things Off to the latest moment be-
fore he did them.
1t was loss to him even in his school
days.
He was a clever boy, quick to learn
and able to remember what he had learnt.
And yet he never was at the top of the
class.
"You should have marks for punctu-
ality as well as lessons said the master.
But Arthur Brown never had any of
them.
81 mean to be at school in time this
morning, he would sometimes say to
himself.
But when nine o'clock came Arthur
was pretty certain to be some distance
of, hurrying as fast as he could.
On one occasion it cost him a prize
which he would have been very glad to
have.
81 know ] want one or two more
marks to make up the number" he said
at night
Bat if am at school in time, and
get all the marks for my lessons, be-
lieve shall have enough"
"1hen, surely, you will be in time
tomorrow, Arthur" said his mother.
Will you call me half an hour earlier
than usual, mother ?'
Yes, then you will have no excuse
for being late ~
II shall be sure to get up if you call
me-
SO the next morning his mother calls
him at seven instead of half past
Get up at once, Arthur" said his
mother. " Remember, the prize may.
perhaps, depend on one mark"
Yes, mother, ! will get up all my
marks to-day, you may be sure" said
Arthur
Bat instead of springing out of bed
at once as his mother advised, he lay
little bit longer.
Presently he though he would get up,
and he began to dress but he saw
book on his table, and stood for some |
time reading that, so that it was no |
earlier than usual when he went down to |
breakfast.
Never mind, have time" he said.
81 must start directly after breakfast
that is ALL"
But be did not hurry over his break
fast until his mother said, Arthur. it
it ten minutes to nine"
Then he jumped up, and all was con-
fusion in the house for few minutes.
Where is my cap? What has been
done with my slate =? / left my exercise
book somewhere, last night 1t is no
good going without it. l must have it,
BY the time all his things had been
found, he had only five minutes in which
to go to school. How lie ran Up one {
street aud down another, across square, !
through lane, then another street, and
yet another, he went as fast as his legs J
could carry him, until he was quite out 1
of breath. What silly boy he was not I
to start sooner? All his running did no :
good. The clock struck nine before he t.
reached the school door.
When he reached it it was locked. e
"Just too late 1t can not have been !,
ocked more than a minute" he said to !.
himself. IL
OF course he felt very cross, and the ST
more so, as he knew that he was himself e
'lcne to blame. Still he hoped for the @
)eSt. Z
81 have lost that mark, but perhaps I "
nave enough without it.. / shall do my "
essons well all day." he said. IL
50 he did, but when the prizes were al
,iven out there was none for him. u
% Arthur Brown said the master. u
8 you have enough marks but one. If u
'ou had always been in time you would NJ
lave had "A prize" hi
1t was enough TO teach Arthur better 81
or life, But he was very slow to learn &c
he lesson of punctuality. ID
Not long after he was invited to spend W
day at farm. He would have to a
tart early and take short railway jour. NJ
icy, and then friend would meet him. tr
" You must come by that train" said o'
us friend If you are not there / &C
hall conclude that You cannot come at f5
H." pi
Very well" said Arthur. You will or
ertainly see me in that train. re
His mother again took care that he eu
hould be called, and that his breakfast m
hould be quite ready for him in good Sc
me. But he did not get up until the pr
lst minute, and then he had to run off
ithout even taking cup of coffee
81 can have some breakfast when |