News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-08
TEN MINUTES A Day.
by NELLIE X. KEnh0GG.

- @NA-1@AA~lA M AGhl1ONNs
WA N8OLLIE had givel
| MSM NJ MlT1 up Ii er m Il S c
| MSG GufXhH Every one regretted
! Ng MIt INV I'M it. Mamma missed
| hIs, N~IHg NY the light touch O
| KTEEESMNW M her daughters fin
| MEIGESSW I'm gers on the piano
M WzkgM which sometimes
| VlQ NJ ~M stood silent fol
| nh EL MW weeks, and reioiceC
E 2SH when Mollie de
y ~ s!'ssa ri aas;ssi hsssili as5S no &
though she only played snatches of her
| old pieces, and those indifferently well
and papa's request for his favorite melo
dies were too often met with the unsat
iSfactory answer that "Mollie couldn't
play them now-shc was all out Ct
practice" Brother Tom grumbled,
when she failed in his accomplishments,
''thst after all the time she had spent
drumming on that old piano, if she could
not play simple things like those it was
a pity" His sister fully agreed with
him, and did not change her mind as
time passed on and she was asked to
play at several little gatherings of her
friends, where "Mollie's music had al
ways been one of the pleasantest features
of the evening, and she was obliged to
decline on the tiresome plea of mot
playing without her notes"
81 think it's too bad" exclaimed
Bessie Arlington, one of her special
cronies. "Mollie used to play so love-
ly, and she was always so nice and OBJ
liging about it, and played whenever
she was asked; and there's no one
to take her place but Eva Harris,
and she has to be teased so long before
she will strike note that it spoils all
pleasure"
$50 it does," said another voice.
"And, now that Mollies out of school,
she ought to have time to practice three
hours day, if she wanted to-
"Oh, Rose Newton!' cried Amy Les
lie, 'tyou don't know anything about it.
just wait till yOw leave school, and see
how many hours yo1 practice, or do any
thing regularly It's awfuIIy hard.
You don't accomplish ms much in year
rs you would in three months at school.
All owing to n lack of SYSTEM" said
Bessie with the tone and manner of one
who has been through varied expert
ences and acquired vast stores of wisdom
therefrom. The girls laughed.
81 suppose it's So" said Amy, "but
Mollie IS systematic; rather, at least, she
0sea"s to be" she added, not feeling
quite sure of her ground. "And she is
5usy almost all the time"
"She is dear girl, anyway" said her
friend, Helen Starr. "And L know she
is too busy to practice, for it does take a
lot of time. Only it seems a pity"
So it did; and no one realized it more
than Molie. When she left school the
year before she had congratulated her
self that her time was her own, and she
could spend it as she pleased. But, for
that very reason she would not waste it;
she would be very diligent, and though
she should not study in the summer, she
would still continue her music. She
had fair touch, was rapid reader, and
played with expression and accuracy;
her one great failing was dislike to
steady practice-a lack of perseverance.
Such being the case, perhaps it was not
strange that, amidst the vacation gay
cites, her hours Of practice grew less and !
less frequent and finally ceased altogeth- |
er, and she trusted to her memory and |
her former instruction for her present |
skill. And SO the days slipped by, |
bright with pleasures that by-and by !
would have glided into joyful memo
rles; and the autumn came, and Mollie
to her home, but the music was
not resumed. at seemed as if she nev-
er had any time;" which often meant
that she did not take it. But to Mollie's
credit be it said, hers was busy winter;
she studied French and German, at
tended Literature Glass and was
member Of n Shakespeare Club; and it is
probable that she might not have real
zed that her musical talent was decreas-
ing but that one day when she was play
ing to her friends she broke down in the
middle OF her piece and had to leave her
piano. Faithful practice was the one
hing needful, and Mollie knew it; but,
ike many elder and wiser souls, she re-
solved and planned, but failed to exc
cute.
And the months rolled on, until one
lay she awoke with start to the fact
hat the last day of the year had arrived
md that she was utterly unable to play
. single piece correctly. For fifteen
minutes she sat silent, wrapped in
'rown study; then she took from the
able note book and pencil, and as are
ult of her reyerie wrote down the follow
ng:
"REsoLvE.
"That /, Mollie Winthrop, aged
ighteen, on this thirty first day of De
ember, Will, on each day of the year
tomorrow, devote ten min
tnS fA fhn -
ises and scales.
"In the year of our Lord eighteen
hundred and eighty five"
Mollie read the paragraph aloud,
Nth an amused expression. at sounds
s if were making my will, she muir
nured. 'Well, SO am-disposingO of my
lme instead of my money, for my own
'enefit instead of other peoples" She
MD the note book aside, and turned TO
he Merchant of Venice" the next sub
ect for the Shakespeare Club. She had
cad but few minutes when she heard
lght footsteps ON the stairs and the
ound of girlish laughter, and presently
er three special friends entered the
Oom.
well, Mollie, my dear, how are
Ou?" said Amy Leslie. 81 have not
cen you for a perfect age. What have
on been doing with yourself all this
Ong day."
WheIeupon Mollie produced her note
Ook, and read them her "Resolve.
met with Amy's cordial approval
Ielen echoed her opinion, bnt Bessie
ooked incredulous. In answer to Mol
e's questioning glance she said, blunt
z, 81 don't believe you'll keep it, and
ont see the use of it if you do"
"Why, Bessie Arlington ? cried Amy.
OF course she'll keep it !"
"I suppose you've made resolves be-
,re 2" said Bessie shortly.
eyes, said Mollie. {
"And broken them !"
eyes, said Mollie again. ''But l ;
9ally mean to keep this one, and tIjnk {
shall"
Bessies bright eyes softened at the {
,ok of determination on her friends ]