The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-01-09
Auusehnla aTnrds.
From the New York Observer.
THE ODD MINUTES.

Clarice.
81 have little favor to ask, /" said Grand.
pa BOgsrdus, polishing his glasses and look
ing, with twinkling eyes, at Clarice.
"What in the world can it be-" inquired
Clarice bresthlessly, for it was the eve Of
the New Year and she had heard the crump-
ling of papers as she darted along the hall
at have a parcel which l want examined;
it is rather bulky and will require time:
what do you say to looking over it?'
ST think should like it, replied Clarice,
a little perplexed.
"That cannot answer for: you may like
it and you may not but if We undertake a
thing it is proper to finish it"
Grandpa Bogardus polished his glasses
very hard and looked inquiringly at Clarice.
81 might try"
"Thas sounds better, something better !;
but this thing requires time, patience, Perse-
verance, and shall expect it to be completed,
if begun"
"What can it ever be ?" thought Clarice
gravely.
81 do not expect it done in a day, but
will expect you only to make use of your odd
minutes; do you ever have odd minutes p
81 never thought bit about it, Grandpa
dear but believe do"
"Well, what do you say about making a
bargain, giving your odd minutes to me if
give something in return to you ?"
ST cannot think what it all means. B"
81 mean if you will take your odd min
utes to look over the parcel, l will give you
the contents of the parcel in exchange"
"Oh, how charming! Where is it Is
it here?
"Stay; come here, little daughter; it will
not all be charming"
"Won't it, Grsndpa?"
"No; you viii sometimes get tired, and
many times find it dull work, and will plenty
of times feel disposed to give up the bargain
altogether"
''Bus do not think l a0iH if l once de-
eide to carry it through"
"No, you must not that is it. Think
about it, and if you decide to undertake it,
carry it through. The New Year is the
time for making stout resolutions, bat the
great thing is to keep to them"
"Dear Grandpa, won't you show me the
parcel?"
"Yes, for 1 want to let you see what
think can be done by saving some of the odd
minutes of year"
So Grandpa Bogardus led Clarice to an
alcOve where the porter had deposited the
parcel, and there, in the richest bindings,
were twelve books course of profitable
historical reading III such beautiful type and
covers that Clarice exclaimed in delight;
"Grandpa Grandpa dear! you cannot
mean them all for me-
"They are mine until you have earned
them. There is one for each month in the
year portion so many pages to each day
and you will find how many odd minutes you
will have in which you can read few pages
at time. AT the end Of each month, if you
have won the book, will write your name
within it"
"But, Grandpa, 1 never could do it:
never read such books in my life {; they are
very grave and large" Clarice was glanc
ing through them.
This house is large; it could not have
been built in day, but it was finished 8
stone at time; you will read but page al
time when you have an odd minute
There are a great many odd minutes in
year.
"But would 1 like them; l mean would
understand them, Grandpa dear 2"
1.-The more you read, the better you vii
understand them and the better you will like
them.
"But I could not get through them: foul
hundred pages five hundred pages Il
would take me year to read one.
Clarice shook her head despsiriDgly.
"Did you ever read twenty-five pages
dayH"
"Yes, more than twenty FIVE pages O.
story books, but
"But-thess will beuseFul and will require
some resolution; yet it is an easy task; one
book at time; one page at time; few
pages every day"
81 will do it, Grandpa DEAR said
Clarice thoughtfully, and Grandpa knew
that small battle had began between Ola
rice and idleness, between Clarice and The
evil habit of wasting time.
Clarice began that very day 20 use up the
odd minutes she was surprised 30 find Sc
many; but some of the pages were hard tc
understand, some Of the pages were Eesrfully
dry after the brightness of stories; some
times she was half inclined to give up; she
would look at the twelve books and sigh
However she came to the conclusion to put
eleven away entirely out Of sight and think