The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-06-10
Items: A story Tor the Little Folks:

"Take care of the minutes and the
hours will take care Of themselves, : re-
peated Master Dick, thoughtfully, as he
closed the book of wise odds and ends
which he had been reading, and, fitting
himself back in his chair, gazed with
seH-satisfed complacency into the fire.
A short pause, during which the loud
ticking of the clock, tho CHEEKY crackle
Of the fire in the great fireplace and the
drowsy purring Of pussy on the hearth
alone broke the silence. Pretty good!
advice if a body would only practice it,
he at length added with sleepy yawn,
stretching himself back at full length,
and ending the performance by bringing
his book down upon the comfortable
with loud bang.
eff body only would practice til"
repeated Sister Gussie contempt uously;
Gas if anybody ever thought of doing
such foolish thing! Pooh! If / just
couldn't find something else more sensi-
BILE and interesting than that old hateful
book, I would just sit and suck my
precious thumbs and read nothing. How
you continue, night after night, to sit
and read that dry stuff and not fall
asleep, is more than I can guess. Why,
the very looks Of the old musty thing,
even. make me nod"
"Oh, well, I presume that it will con-
tinue to exist and do well, even though
it is SO unfortunate as to incur the dis
pleasure Of your most serene and royal
Highness," answered Dick, with mock
gravity. SIN fact, 7 fear that it will get
along great deal better without you
than you without it, to come down to
matters of fact" he added. {" l am even
of the opinion that that very same home
" piece of advice wouldn't come amiss
If reduced to practice by some little
risky, impatient bodies that / know of,
who are always enyironed on every side
by so terrible much work that they just
can't do anything, and whose lessons are
so long that it is Of no use trying to get
them" &
stPretty well put in, Master Dick, !"
spoke up grandfather, who, doing over
his newspaper, had seemed not to notice
anything transporting; "pretty well put
in. Not few Of us would be benefited
by putting into practical use the truth
words. Mankind are too prone to dis
enlargement and faint-heartedness we
stand aghast at mole-hills as mountains,
rivulets as mighty torrents, when, if We
would summon up forttude and deter
minedly grapple with them, they would
melt away to their real proportions, or
flee away and alright us no more. Per-
severance will achieve all but impossi-
bilities, while to the weak and faint
hearted its achievements are truly
miraculous"
Gussie waited to hear no more, but,
with O pettish toss Of her pert little head
and something of a pout on her rosy
lips, slipped off to her room, and, snugly
ensconced in her cozy bed, was soon fan
away from homely, practical world OF
practical people and practical books
filled with practical proverbs.
Papa had milling to do the next day,
and, as he lived off in the country a
good ways from the mill, he had to start
early or be late in coming home. So,
by the first glimmering of day in the
east, he was up and stirring and had a
good fire roaring in the cooking stove,
with the tea-kettle filled and simmerinp
over the fire. Mamma was then
awakened to start breakfast, and, as she
was afraid that the baby would awaken
at every noise, which would call hel
away and delay breakfast, she calico
Gussie up to help her. SO, though low
ing her morning nap dearly, as all young
folks do, Gussie cheerfully got up, and
after making a hasty toilet, pitched int
the work, "clean to the elbows" al
Cousin Bob expressed it. And most o
it she had to do, too, for with SO mucl
noise baby was soon awake and crying
and mother in tending to him couldn'
do much else. But. being quick ani
handy little girl, and knowing, as ever,
little girl should, how to do her worl
the best and most speedily, breakfas
was soon ready and smoking on tn
table; and very tempting and nice j
looked, too, though little girl did ge
it, and we guess it tasted equally good
Judging by the way papa and the rest o
the folks ate of it. In fact, the snowy
light biscuits, the dish Of sweet, yellow
butter, the bowl Of seasoned mashed
potatoes, the platter of bacon, FRIED
crisp and sweet, together with dishes o
tempting preserves, apple-butter ant
jellies, with nice fresh pies, and over al
the aroma Of the rich, golden coffee
would have tempted the stomach Of mos
anybody.
The men folks were at last through
and gone to their work, and, after hasti
ly washing the soiled dishes, the mex
table was ready and Gussie took time, t.
sit with them and eat her breakfast ant
rest a while before school time. Blu
just then there came hurried rap at til,
door, and neighbor entered with |
message for her mother to come to tn,
bedside Of a very sick friend. So, leav
ing a few hasty directions, and charging
Gussie not to be late at school, her moth
er hurried away to the sick bedside
Gussie made no remonstrance in fact
didn't think much about it at first ant
sat lazily slipping her coffee and dreami
~ studying the pattern Of the table
cloth. She had thus lolled away SOM
little time, when loud whirring Of til,
clock broke in upon her reverie. and
2. 8, 4, 5 and 6 were rung out to her
Gussie thought, with terrible emphasis
In an instant she was on her feet ant
staring in blank dismay about her. ST
o'clock only three hours till school
time and everything in the house il
the widest confusion !! How could sh
have sat dallying away her time 8
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