Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-29
TEN MINUTES A DAY.

M0llle had given up her music. Every
one regretted it, Mamma missed the
light touch of her daughters fingers on
the piano. which sometimes stood silent
for weeks, and rejoiced when Mollie de-
clared herself to be in musical mood,
though she only played snatches OF her
old pieces, and those indifferently well;
and papa's requests for his favorite melo-
dies were too often met with the unsati5-
factory answer that ''Mollie couldn't play
them now--she was all out of practice.
Brother Tom grumbled when she failed in
his Accomplishments, that, 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 always been one Of the pleasantest
features of the evening, and she was
obliged to decline on the tiresome plea of
'not playing without her notes"
Il think it's too bad exclaimed Bes-
sic Arlington, one Of her special cronies.
"Mollie used TO play so lovely, and she
was always so nice and obliging 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 leased so long
before she will strike a note that it spoils
all the pleasure"
$50 it does" said another voice. 'And
now that Mollie's out OF school she ought
to have time to practice three hours
day, if she wanted to-"
''Oh, Rose Newtonr' cried Amy Leslie,
''you don't know anything about it. Just
wait till you leave school, and see how
many hours you practice or do anything
regularly It's awfully hard. You don
accomplish as much in year as you
would in three months of SCHOOL,
''All owing TO lack of SYSTEM" said
Bessie, with the tone and manner of one
and acquired vast stores OF wisdom there
from The girls laughed.
Il suppose it's So" said Amy, ''but
Mollie is systematic; rather, at least. she
means to be, she added, not feeling quite
sure of her ground. And she is busy al
most all the time"
''She is a 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 PITY
% IL tlU, anu llU OIlt ItdIiLeU IL IloT6
than Mollie. When she left school the
year before, she had congratulated herself
on the fact that her time was her own,
and she could spend it as she pleased.
But for that reason she would not waste
it, she would be very diligent and though
she should not study in the summer, she
would continue her music. She had a
fair touch, was rapid reader, and played
L..
great failing was dislike to steady prac-
tice-a lack of perseverance. Such beng
the case, perhaps it was not strange that,
amid the vacation gayeties, her hours of
practice grew less and less frequent. and
finally ceased altogether, and she trusted
to her memory and former instruction for
her present skill. And so the days slipped
by, bright with pleasures, that by and by
would have glided into joyful memories
and the autumn came, and Mollie re-
turned to her home, but the music was
not resumed. ''It seemed as if she never
had any time;'' which often meant she
did not take it. But, to Mollie's credit,
be it said hers was busy winter; she
studied French and German, attended
literature class, and was member of
Shakespeare club: and it is probable she
might not have realized that her musical
talent was decreasing, but that one day,
when she was playing to her friends, she
broke down in the middle of her piece and
had to leave the piano. Faithful practice
was the one thing needful, and Mollie
knew it; but, like many older and wiser
souls, she resolved aud planned, and
failed to execute.
And the months rolled on, until one
day in December she awoke with a start
to the fact that the last day of the year
had arrived, and that she was utterly I'M
able to play single piece correctly. For
fifteen minutes she sat silent. wrapped in
brown study; then she took from the
table note book and pencil, and, as the
result of her reverie, wrote down the fol-
lowing
RESOLVE:
"That I, Mollie Winthrop, aged IS, on
this 31st day of December, will, on each
day of the year, commencing tomorrow,
devote ten minutes to tie practice Of five
finger exercises and scales.
'In the year of our Lord eighteen hun
dred and eightyfve."
Moilie read the paragraph aloud, with
m amused expression. at sounds as il
/ were making my will" she murmured.
well, so l am-disposing of my time
instead of my money, for my own benefit
instead of other peoples" She laid the
note book aside, and turned to the ''Mer-
chant of Venice, " the next subject for the
Shakespeare club. She had read but a
few minutes when she heard light foot
steps on the stairs and the sound OF girlish
laughter, and presently her three special
friends entered The room.
well, Mollie, my dear, how are you'''
said Amy Leslie. Il have not seen you
for a perfect age What have you been
doing with yourself all this long day."
Whereupon Molle produced her note
book and read them her Resolve Ii
met with Amy's cordial approval; Helen
echoed her opinion, but Bessie looked in
credulous In answer To Mollie's cues
tioning glance she said. bluutly, Il don't
believe you'Il keep it, and | don't see the
use Of it if you do
why, Bessie Arlington" cried Amy.
"Of course she'll keep it''
~ suppose you've made resolves be
fore2' said Bessie, shortly.
Yes" SAID Mollie.
"And broken thern,''
YES" said Mo.lie again. "But
really mean 70 keep this one, and ta.nk
! shall "
Bessie's bright eyes softened az the look
of determination on her friends face. II
hope you viii " she answered But /
don't see the use Of IL now. ! should
think you would want TO Learn 70 play
your lovely old pieces
And new ones, too" interrupted
Helen.
Why, go DO, - returned Nollie. And
that's the very reason In going 20 prac-
tee them thoroughly, and review ny
r;e-re. o,~,rf1-aTy sr-f. 7tee- -1v hand 4