The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-25


train runaway cole TO- become q useful
noble horse. Let me give you some rules
that once settled certain person with
this same disposition :.
."In the first place, keep your hands
busy at something; don't allow them K
drop idly whenever you are thinking. II
you will train yourself to work while you
think, it will be worth a fortune to you
Another reason for doing il is little Mil.
lies duty to busy, weary mother. Does
she not sometimes forget it?"
Only the down-cast eyes and burning
face said, eyes" =,
"Is the lecture growing too severeT
said the professor.
"No, nor she answered, Il know
deserve it. Please 60 on"
"Well, then, in the second place, !
want you to promise me that you will
write something every day from the sto
ries you tell to yourself, following up
each until it is finished. Into each put
the best and purest style you can com
mand, and not only the romance of the
plot, -batsome>eriginal and solid thought
You will find that writing is the best way
of:disciplining the mind to work: PROM
ise, Mile, that youS win do this every
day that I remain with you"
II will try" said Mile, with fear and
trembling.
"Then third and last; / want you to
begin course of reading, which you will
let me mark out for you and spend an
hour each day at it; it will benefit you
in many ways. And now, little neice, is
the dose too bitter to take 2"
j"I expect it will be pretty hard, uncle, -
she answered truthfully. "But [ would
do it if it were ten times harder. or at
least try, after what you have said. Still" p"
with a little laughing mischief in her
face, "pve only taken this pledge for
three months" ,........o.
"We will see what comes then," he an
swered with his grave smile. Then he
went away to his own room, and Millle
wasteft aione-
She, true TO the FIRST clause of her
promise, began sewing vigorously, and
aworked while she thought She was a
girl of much frmness whenL once her
mind was fully made up; and she was
determined; for her dear Encle's sake, to
carry out his advice for the coming three
months, to the letter.
The summer, with its long, warm days,
and busy life passed away; the silent
autumn came; with its gorgeous foliage,
its whisper OF the dying year, is'sad yet
sweet itiRaerlee. Not until then did the
professor affaHge for his departure to his
work in the city. The pure country air
had given the old energy to his manner,
a frmer ring to his step, and the glow of
health to his face.
On the morning of his last leisure day
he said to Mile, "I know that my little
niece has been resolute and has kept the
three months pledge;' for her mother
has told me of her industrious, steady
work, and what help she has been, so !
am sure she has kept the second and
third clauses as faithfully as the first.
And now l am ready and anxious to see
what you have written"
sStrange as it may seem, Millie had
never thought of the possibility of her
writings coming under her uncle More
heads inspection and so she stood grow
ing white and red by terms; and giving
little gasps of astonishment and dismay,
for was he not great author and mas
ter of style and thoug ght? :
"My child" he said gravely, seeing
her hesitation, ''go and get it for me; it
is for your own sake / wish to see it."
And she obeyed at once, saying never
q word, for he was, somehow, always
obeyed like king, without question or
an appeal.
He was alone in his room all the after
noon, and not until after the summer
twilight had begun to deepen around
them that evening, did he speak of what
his thoughts had been. Then he called
Millie out to a quiet seat on the varanda.
"In looking over your papers this al
ternoon,,p he said, ~ found as had
thought that you have love of the ro.
mantle and imaginative, and facility of
expression which runs through the whole
of your mothers family. She herself, if
she had only had the opportunity, might
have made for herself name. The lack
with all of us has been natural distaste
to close application; but whatever sue
cess any of US have gained has come
alone through the agency Of hard work;
I am anxious that you, my Millie, should
be one of our hard workers, and that
through your work you may help your
mother and yourself in more ways than
one. But don't try to fly, my, child, until
you have enough of feathers grown; 1
have known some to attempt it, and they
fell to the ground very ignominiously."
81 wish you to take the pledge again,
and for the coming year. Work while
YOU think; write daily, and study the
best authors. You may consider that a
recipe to cure aimless day dreaming in
general, besides being your particular
pledge. In writing, try each day to in
crease in both quantity and quality, but
especially the latter, and after you have
finished any sketch, revise and re-revise
it with your best care, and, finally, copy
it for me. I will probably come here
again by the end of the year. And now
are you willing to make this new prom
ise?" he asked, with his grave, sweet
smile.
eyes, uncle, I promise" she answered
giving her hand by way of emphasis, and
the bright eyes had in them the fash Of
newly-awakened ambition.
Looking ut her, you did not wonder
that her uncle was proud of her and had
high hopes of her future. Somehow
everything in her face and form anc
manner told you that she could do if she
would.
1t was autumn again and Millie hac
lust completed her seventeenth year ane
entered upon her eighteenth, and though
there was still the merry flash in her eye
her general manner was more serious, a.
if she had an earnest purpose in he
life.
The leaves had put on their glorious
apparel for the closing year, and the ali
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