San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-03-08

being Deiore'
Now that she had taken one goo(
fertilization, she took heart ana at
tackled another. She plodded through
n long page of tough examples,
over which she would once have fret
ted by the hour. Ifanthmetic would
help girl along in life, she determin
ed to master it page by page. There
were few spots that seemed little
beyond her depth, but she did hei
best to understand every step she
took, and succeeded far beyond the
average of school girls. The de-
termination and perseverance that
this required, and the mental disci'
pine, were the best results OF all,
though the practical knowledge was
not to be despised.
A gentleman from the city came out
one day to buy some stock OF Mr..
Brown, and accepted his invitation to
stay over night.
What surprised Helen was to see
the ease with which Mis- Dare con-
versed upon all topics that came up,
with this grey.haired man of bust
ness, who was in the habit Of gather
ing information of practical kind,
in every locality where he happened
to be.
"How did you ever learn so much,
Mabel?" asked Helen, in the privacy
of their own room. Il never suspect
ed you of being a business woman"
"Oh, reputation for knowledge is
very cheaply acquired sometimes. L
always make point of learning some
thing wherever I go, and then you
know 1 read semi weekly regularly.
The fact is, Helen, l don't skip the
dull parts in a paper" Helen laughed
as she saw the application. She al
ways did skip the llparts from regu-
lar system.
"You never will acquire much gen.
eral information until you get over
that habit" went on Mabel Dare.
Reading simply for amusement may
do for recreation, but all play quick
ly spoils the working powers of body
or mind. The two great points with
you, Helen, should be in these years,
to increase your mental powers, and
add to your stores of knowledge.
would write these two points on
card, and study over the subject some
minutes every day. I would ask my
self every day if l had gained any
thing on either count"
There were several good papers in
the house every week, but Helen had
always been in the habit of skim
ming them over OH the hunt for
story, and as soon as it was devoured
the paper was thrown aside. She
tried Mabel Dare's plans of reading
for information, and was surprised
to find that so much could be learned
from a single number. She was a
sensible girl, and did not proceed to
air her knowledge just for the sake of
showing off, but bided her time, and
found it was easy and pleasant to
join conversation on other subjects
besides cooking and sewing.
When spring work came on, she
entered into the hustle with more
zest than she ever had before.
81 wish l had something of my
own on the farm, Mabel" she said
one day, rather fretfully. Some
thing l could raise money from, and
increase by diligence. | know father
is better provlder than most men
about here, but 1 should like to han
die money that was myown; to spend
money without asking for it. :"
"There are great many possibili
ties on a farm" said Miss Dare, land
l an sure your father would be will
ling to help you if he knew your am
bition."
The two girls discussed various
ways and means before they went to
sleep, and Helen mind was made up
to TRY something"
1t is said that Providence helps
those who help themselves. That
very week swarm of bees flew over
the wheat field and alighted on an
apple tree bough. The united talent
of the family conspired to hive
them" in bushel basket, and from
thence they were transferred as soon
as possible to a patent hive. 1t was
Helen's discovery, and Helens swarm.
She felt that she was fairly started in
new industry of which she had not
even thought for amoment.
1T seems a little like keeping
strayed cattle, father" said Helen.
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