The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-06
TEN MINUTES.

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-
stances in which the heroine Of the
story was placed.
Charlotte had one prominent fault
which unfortunately she could not be
made to consider as Of much conse-
quence. She was always a little be-
hindhand, given to dilly -dallying. Tom
had called her twice, saying the last
time:
~ shall be at the door with the horse
in a iiffy, and il you want to ride you
must be ready"
Presently she put away her book and
went upstairs, glancing at her watch.
"Ten minutes oil 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 quickly when she once got at
them. The trouble was, the habit OF
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 10 the CITY,"
"Gone?"
"Yes'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. ale can't have been gone more
than minute or twor'
"No. 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.
swell, Miss Charlotte, IL was moth
ing, only he said he. had given you
time CROUCH 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. at was just
horrid, OF Tom, anyway"
Three hours later they met at the tea
table; some way the story had leaked
out, and Mrs. Ballou, seeing Charlotte s
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; l was obliged to be
In the city at half.psst three, and
l told Charlotte TO be ready at ten
minutes OF the hour, so as to allow for
delays. And as 1t was, l didn't get
away until almost the hour"
"You said ten minutes Of three, and
Twas ready and downstairs at the door
Mt three. I'm sure ten minutes isn't
much to wait. don't think that would
have made much difference.
81 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 W
the minutes for, but we found out wher
we came TO the river"
won't you tell US about 1t, sir"'
asked Tom.
ut was during Colonel Grierson's ex
pedition through Mississippi in 1868
We were approaching the Pearl River
and we knew il was the season OF higl
water, and consequently 1t would b.
impossible TO ford the river. Th'
bridge was our only hope. II thu
enemy had succeeded In destroyingth
bridge before we reached 1t we woult
be at their mercy. Every horse wa
urged TO its utmost speed, and ever
man anxious for his life was on tn
lookout for the cleaning Of the river
Before we caught sight OF the water
we heard the roar OF the rushing flood
and above that sound came the crash
ing Of the timbers, which told us tina
the enemy were at the work Of destruC
ton. tell you, Charlotte, ten minute
made all the difference 10 us betwee
life and death, or, at least, between Iii
erty and Southern prison. The wor
of demolition was ended by a short Ell
counter, and we passed over the bridg'
on and beyond the reach OF the comm
army. That ten minutes might easil
have been spent in getting started,
our commander had been like OF
Charlotte in thinking that a few mt
ments more or less could make no diffe
ence."
"But, father" said Charlotte, "thI
was in war, and Of course, II was In
pNtant to save up the minutes"
my child, we did not know that h
minutes would make us too late, az
you may come to bridge, just a lit
Zoo late, when you least expect it."
II hate TO be always hurrying|
pouted the young girl. -
There Is no need Of hurry. II yC
are always prompt TO put the rig
work in the right time you will new
have to hurry. I'll venture to say tn
you hurried to get ready this afternoc
and were too late, after all, becau
you did not save the minutes In u
first place. How long didyou sit drear
ing after Tom told you he was going
the city, and told you that you could
II you were readyw 9i'
Charlotte's cheeks flushed as she
piled:
"Well, know II Is q bad habit Ne