Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-05-22

lNOllfs OA VAt SSaN 1AyN oCS. IU NOV
DAYS with no idea whatever az to h1w
she should employ them, except The
unconscious resolve not to do any more
than she must. She was always late to
breakfast; and, While Lucy helped he,
aunt to wash the breakfast cups, Molly
sat at table idly balancing a spoon over
the edge of hers. Too often she went
upstairs and lay on her bed half
asleep, when she should have been
waking herself up with fresh Dir.
Mrs. Lester was greatly troubled al
these ungirl-like ways If Molly's. Shs
consulted the doctor, who talked 81
"nerves' and .'li,er;" but all thu
blue-pills she swallowed made no diff
ference to Molly, or reused her to an
interest in existence.
"Molly, come and have q good
swing" Lucy would cry; "Molly, the
boys want us to go to Duck. Brook after
gentians." But ~ don't want to,
I M tired" would be Mo!ly's answer.
She was not really tired, and she knew
in her heart that, if she choose, she
could perfectly well Jump up and 90.
But the pillow felt comfortable lust
then, and she felt easy, so she lay still,
and said: "Oh, don't bother me.
Lucy!"
Every now and then she reused, as
indolent people do, with a sort of won.
der at the result of Lucy's industry.
"Ican't think how you find time to
do so many things" she would say;
81 should like an afghan like Yours
for my room ever so much, but / never
could make q big thing like that"
"Oh, yes! you could. You could do
it in odd minutes. and never know that
it took any time at ALL" declared,
Lucy. "Do set one up. Molly. It's
such interesting work, and aunty would
give you the worstcds, l know.H
"Oh! ! couldn't possibly. Ihaven't
any time" -
"But you have, plenty. There's all
that bit after breakfast, when you are
waiting for Miss Allen"
"Only t~hree-quarters of an hour"
81 know-because you are almost al
ways late. But, Molly. you can do lots
in three-quarters of an hour"
"Nonsensc! I should just get out
my things, and then have to stop"
"Well, there's the time after your
music practice, and"
II can't begin to get to work in lit
tie bits of time like those" declared
Molly. "And I'm always tired after
practicing. and don't feel like doing
anything"
So it went on, year after year. "I
wish l had things like Lucy" Molly
would say; or, when an injured feeling
came over her: II wish the boys didn't
like Lucy better than me. 1t isn't fair,
for I'm their own sister, and she is only
a cousin" But she never took the
trouble to make herself either useful or
beloved, and things gradually went
away from her-the friends, the chances
which should have been hers. 1t was,
sad for Molly to miss so much; but it is
the hard law of the world that to those,
who will have shall be given. and to the
folded hands little or nothing.
And now the two girls have grown
up, and are women. I went to the Les,
ters' home the other day. Jim, the old
est boy, is soon to be married. He came
in while was there. He spoke to us
all, but he sat down close to Lucy, and
had a long, low-voiced talk with her
about the little home he is furnishing.
1t was quite as a matter of course that
he did SO; but it struck me c%uriously,
and l couldn't help looking at Molly
who sat by the window with her hands
folded, and took little part in the con-
versation.
Mrs. Lester had grown older of late
years, and looks rather feeble. When
the clock struck twelve, I saw Lucy
jump up, and lay down her work.
tab!e-cover which she was embroiderine
in crewels for Jim's bride. She went
out, and presently returned with a glass
ct milk and q biscuit. "Aunty must
have her little lunch," she said. Again
I glanced at Molly, and wondered that
she should leave this daughterly Office
to Lucy.
Ned, the second son, came in after
that. He was Ill trouble with a diff
cult sum in algebra, and he took his
BOO to Lucy, who again laid down her
work to help him. MI. Lester put his
mead into the room, and called out:
Lucy, will you come here a moment?"
Next l .w her having a whispered con-
terence with the cook; and I rubbed nv
eyes, tor it seemed as if it must be Mol
ly who was doing all these things, and
not Lucy.
After dinner, went upstairs to get
my bonnet, which had been left in Mol
y > room. ohe was lying on her bed,
half asleep and l couldn't help giving
her a little hint as to what I had been
thinking Of.
g" know it," she answered, plain
lively; They always did prefer Lucy;
tney don't care a bit for me. It isn't
my fault I've never been strong, YOU
Know, and I've had to rest a good deal'
"a yawn-"and Lucy is one of the do
ing KIND, and always puts herself for
ward; Well - another yawn lit
;snt her fault either, exactly; but that
l tied my bonnet on silently: when
turned from the glass, Molly was fast
asleep!
Now, girls, which would you rather
De hke.Molly o Lucy?-Susan Cool
'dge, in S. S. Times.
How ar Insect Breaches.