The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-12-19

4 { go without being ready, if need be, or

4 go without being ready, if need be, or
stay behind"
4 I had come to talk very plainly to her,
out of love and goodwill, as well as,
sometimes, from vexatiOn of spirit For
the twentieth time she would tell me
how truly she had meant to he punCtuaI
in some given case, and that she would
have been so but that she was hindered
when nearly ready by some unforeseen
occurrence.
"But, my dear, unforeseen. hinderances
will often occur, and you must lay your
account with them, and give yourself
extra time. You will run the risk Of
meeting some great calamity by trusting
as YOU do to the last minute"
and the calamity did befall her. Mr..
.AlGbone spent.a day with us. We were
anticipating with great pleasure a second
visit, when q telegram arrived request
/ ing Jennie to meet him in Boston on
the succeeding morning. A business
emergency had summoned, him abroad
very suddenly; and he was to embark
| for Liverpool in the evening.
We all sympathized with Jennie in
the startling effect of this sudden an
nOuncement, and offered every sort of
! help when the hour for her departure
was at hand. She had only to compose
4 herself and prepare for the journey.
| Sister Bell would arrange her hair and
| bring her dress, and she would be spared
an effert. She seemed grateful, but was
sure she could be ready without troub-
| ling any one. She dreamed not how
much she was, even then, troubling us,
| for we were beginning to tremble lest
she should somehow manage to be late
! for this her only train.
She kissed US al twice over when the
/ hackman arrived at the door but sud
| denly glancing in the mirror and ObserY-
ing how ashen was her usually brilliant
| complexion, she declaring against wear
ing the grey cashmere in which she was
dressed, of hue so like her face. George
must not meet her thus. She seized her
black silk, with which, in spite of Temon-
strances, she proceeded to array herself
There was time enough the carriage
must surely be too early. Alas! for the
ripping out of gathers, in the violence
Of her haste, and for the lOopings of her
skirt, not to be dispensed with! Horses
could not be made to do the work of
five minutes IN three.
Shesaw thelc cars move off without her
No words were called for. My mother
carried glass of elderberry wine to the
poor girl, and left her alone to her tears,
They would do her good.
We ourselves needed rest, after the
troubled scene of hurry and excitement,
and we sat down feeling as if a wlIirl-
wind had passed.
at is beyond my comprehension"
said my father, when he came home to
dinner. l can understand tardiness," he
continued, categorically, "as the result
Of Incidence. Lazy people dread effort
and postpone it. There is a man in my
employ who continues to work some
times after hours. The men tell me that
he is actually too lazy to leave off work
and put away his tools. But Miss jean
nette seems active and energetic"
"She miscalculates, papa" said. "She
always imagines there is plenty of time
until the last minute"
"But herein is the mystery" persisted
my father. "Whence this uniformity Of
derelictiOn? Why not sometimes 700
early and sometimes just in the right
time, instead of always and everywhere
late, and making others late?"
"POOr girl" said my mother, whose
compassion was uppermOst. u pity her
with all my heart; vet it is-nOt a case Of
life and death. This trial may be at
tended with beneficial results. We will
hope So"
I am sorry that this hope was appar-
emily not to be realized. The lesson
failed to be read Alright. Jeanette re-
covered her serenity, and resumed her
tardy ways. A yet severer lesson was
needed, and it came.
The steamer in which, afteran absence
of ten or twelve weeks, George AIibone
was to embark for home, was lost, and
not q passenger saved.
My father took me to my Door stricken
friend. in her distant home. Pale and
dumb with grief, yet with fearless eyes, !
she let us take her almost lifeless hand. !
From her blOOdless lips came only the |
low, anguished cry, 'If had only said
farewell"
What comfort in wordsP We offered
none. My fathers eyes brimmed over,
and my heart was breaking for my poor !
Jeanette.
But relief came speedily. The joyful
news was received that George was safe, |
having a necessary change in his plans, |
and would arrive in a fortnight. Jean
nette came up from the depths. What |
should her thank offerings be? She |
made the resolution TO become at once |
faithful to her appointments, prompt and I
reliable. It was not that she would h7J
she would speak the commanding |
words, u WILLIE i
She has kept her resolution. Writing
to me, after a lapse Of years, she said: /
"YOu will hardly know your dilatoTy !
friend. 7 remember and practice your /
advice Of former years, TO be first ready |
for my appointments, and to reserve I
other work for the interval of waiting (
after I am ready. It is surprising howl
often find not a moment left for wait |
ing. Still, feel the old tendency tc |
prOcTastinate, and I am obliged stead |
lastly to resist it. Delays are danger
ous,' as our old Writing-copies used tc |
run; the sentiment is hackneyed, but |
oh, how true! George says he owes you /
ten thousand thanks for your faithful
counsel, and shall speak them when you
make us the visit of which we feel SO
sure, because your promises, as ! we'll /
know, are faithfully kept"