St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-09-06
TEN MINUTES.

Charlotte BallSu sat curled up on the
sofa in the library, lost in thought. Il
was not such very important matter
that absorbed her mind. either. She
had been reading, but had stopped to
consider whether she would not have
acted differently under the circum-
story was placed.
Charlotte had ono prominent fault
which unfortunately she could not be
made to consider as of much conse-
quence. She was always little be-
midland. given to dilly-dallying. Tom
had called her twice, saying the last
time:
IL shall be at the door with the horse
in a jify. and if you want to ride you
must be ready"
Presently she put away her book and
went upstairs. CHANGING at her watch.
"Ten minutes OF three. I'll be ready
at three, and that will be soon enough:
Tom need not be in such fret"
As the hall clock chimed out the hour
she went downstairs. She could do
things qu ckly when she once got at
them. The trouble was, the habit 0.
delay in starting was strong upon her.
She opened the door and stood upon
the steps waiting for Tom. just then
the stable boy came around the corner.
"Where is Tom" she asked.
"Gone to the CITY,"
"GOne?''
"Yes'm m; he said was to tell you he
could not wait any longer as he had an
engagement in the city. and must be
there before banking hours were over"
'Bother!' said Charlotte. in vexed
tone. HE can't have been gone more
than q minute or twon'
mo. ma am; he only just went, but
he said every minute was precious -
and here the boy stopped suddenly,
which Charlotte noticed, and she in
sisted upon his finishing the sentence.
"Well. Miss Charlotte, it was moth
ing. only he said he had given you
time enough to get ready"
Charlotte Went slowly upstairs and
INDUCED in hearty cry; she was dis
appointed, for she very much wanted
to do some errands in the city. and
now they must wait until Monday, for
this was Saturday. She would be
obliged to wear her old gloves to
church, and her little brother and SIS
ter must do without the Sunday treat
from the confectioner's which she al
ways provided for them. '.It was just
horrid, of Tom, anyway!'
Three hours later they met at the tea
table; some way the story had leaked
out, and Mrs. Bal!ou. seeing Charlo;te'>
sober face and knowing how great had
been her disappointment. said gently:
Tom, dear, couldn't you have
waited for Charlotte this afternoon"
.No, mother; was obliged to he
in the city at hslf.past three. and
l told Charlotte to be ready at ten
minutes of the hour, SO as to allow for
delays. And as it was, didn't get
away until almost the hour"
"You said ten minutes of three, and
I was ready and downstairs at the door
at three. I'm sure ten minutes isn't
much to wait. don't think that would
have made much difference"
II could tell you of . time when ten
minutes saved . whole regiment re-
marked Mr.. Ballou. quietly. 1--WE
didn't know what we were saving up
the minutes for, but we found out when
we came to the river"
Wont you tell us about it. sir?"
asked Tom.
1T was during Colonel Grierson's ex-
petition through Mississippi in 1868.
We were approaching the Pearl River,
and we knew it was the season of high
water, and consequently it would be
impossible TO ford the river. The
bridge was our only hope. If the
enemy had succeeded in destroying the
bridge before we reached it we would
be at their mercy. Every horse was
urged to its utmost speed, and every
man anxious for his life was on the
lookout for the cleaning of the river.
Before we caught sight of the waters
we heard the roar of the rushing flood,
and above that sound came the crash
ing of the timbers, which told us that
the enemy were at the work of destruc-
ton. l tell you. Charlotte, ten minutes
made all the difference TO us between
life and death, or, at least, between lib
erty and Southern prison. The work
of demolition was ended by a short en-
counter, and we passed over the bridge,
ON and beyond the reach of the coming
army. That ten minutes might easily
have been spent in getting started, if
our commander had been like our
Charlotte in thinking that q few mo-
ments more or less could make no differ
ence."
"But, father" said Charlotte, "that
was in war, and of course, it was i'm
portant to save up the minutes"
my child, we did not know that ten
minutes would make us too late, and
you may come to bridge, just little
too late, when you least expect it. :"
Il hate to be always hurrying"
pouted the young girl.
There is no need of hurry. If you
are always prompt TO put the right
work in the right time you will never
have to hurry. I'll venture to say that
you hurried to get ready this afternoon
and were too late. after all, because
YOU did not save the minutes in the
first place. How long did you sit dream
ing after Tom told you he was going to
the city, and told you that you could 60
if you were ready?"
Charlotte's cheeks flushed as she re-
piled:
"Weil. know it is . bad habit. Next
time I'll be on band"'
LET it be not only next time, but
erery tins" responded Mr.. Ballou.