American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-09-11
PERsEyERING AGNES.
BY GEORGE KRINaLE.

AM going to learn, too" -s..-. .
"You? oh, hear it! Agnes going te
learn, too; and Ursula's laugh was merry
and long. -'-
why do you laugh p, asked A gnes, her
face flushing. = !
because you are such q goose"
ut is not being 9 goose to try when
"You are a goose, for you might know
yox could not do it. Agnes learning to
play by nOter, and Ursula sank down
among the cushions, almost upsetting
mammals astral on the table, and laughed
until Agnes, quite cast down from her
ma and to-know If she really, being no.
body but Agnes" could learn to play on
the piano by notes.
81 shall learn this one to-day and that
one tomorrow, and these the next day and
the next, y, said Ursula ssome time afters
ward, counting over the exercises in her
book. 81 shall have finished them all by
New Years Day and be ready for real,
! aWhat, piece IKE lucille playss"
askedsAgnes. 49, so I
eyes, something like hers"
"By New Years? How many days is
many"
"Why, I've only four exercises learned,
Ursula, and you aEetalking of learning
piece" ssr
Well, told you so, Goose; knew you
could not learn"
"Cannot learn" thought Agnes, turning
away; "cannot learn? If Ursula can
learn them by New Year SO can 1, if I do,
as mamma says, persevere;" and she ran
out to take peep at Towser-" poor,
chained TOwser',Aand to try to forget
that Ursula had said that she could not
learn.
But Ursula began on the exercise of the
day. Chow easy it is" she said to her
self, stopping, after the first few notes, to
see if the exercise did not look like Lu-
cille,s scales; " 1 can learn it in a minute"
two or three more notes and stop.
8 s'Tomorrow's exercise looks like a |
tune;" and Ursula hummed pretty little |
air, thinking how fine it would be could
she play such an air by note.
The first note over again; two or three |
sounds. and Ursula had to stop !
% remember what she must do when there
we're more notes than she had fingers, and |
o regret that exercisc-makers- ever ar
.anged for a passing of thumbs and cross
ng. of fingers. u
:" IF this is what it is, there is no east
ness about it, and shall not learn it in a
ninute;" and she twisted around on the \
visiting jIiano stool, and wished the prac-
Zee hour was over. But knowing that,
somehow, she must get to the end she
at the first note to stumble
md bIunder to the last, and recommended I
nee more, only 10 stop, when she reached
he sixth note, all in confusion.
81 doH't1like it," she. cried; it is ugly
md hard; I'llnever learn it, I'm sure" and
he glanced at the hour " If could skip
his could get on with the rest, but this
$ htlmbug and nothing else;'s and she
urned over the leaves and wondered how
png it would take to play like Lucille.
So the hour passed by and Ursula for
hat day was done and Agnes screwed the
tool little higher and began her prac-
Ice, wondering, in spite of herself as she
,oked at the puzzling dots and lines, if
could be possible that Ursula was right
nd that she could not learn.
at is hard" she thought, as she tried
nd failed and tried again; hard, but
ice too, and mamma says that almost ey-
rything is hard at first"
Steadily one note followed another; the Il
ne when finished was rebegun with the
light hand, then with the left, then both +
)gether.
Agnes was tired.
!" Mamma saws we must not mind being
red If we want TO learn, +" she thought, as
he rested her fingers and then went ON
gain steady rs the tick of the parlor 4.
lock; aote-at time line after line, till {
lie little fingers achcd and the. head was
,cary, and the exercise at the end of the
me was dene.-
Ursula was sleeping one day, and just 4
woke in time to hear, pretty clear notes,
nd, knowing Lucillewas away, started up
,see Agnes, Il little finger-sore and good I
sal tired, finishing her hour.
g What are you trying that for?" asked
Ursula, coming closer; "why, it's away |
head in the book !
d" It's my lesson,' replied Agnes, look
ng up. ,ss7
. Your lesson W and Ursula counted up
$ we'll as she could in her mind how .
many lessons she. was behind, and, cross
s she could be, took up book.
Monsieur will bring q real tune for Fl
he to day; it is New Year almost;" and .
Ionsieur came in to bring the tune,
nd to give the lessons, just in time to-
atch Ursula's cross answer and to see
J-sula's cross face, and said, upon seeing /;
nd hearing:
Upractice hrinps pieres. little fingers ,