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

cred power. Mhen Bessie Arlington ap-
peared, followed by Amy and Helen
We're the visiting committee" shs
explained. Come TO inquire into the
state of your accomplishments l sup
pose you've not forgotten that your year
is ups
NO" said Mollie, laughing. "But I
shall commence another one tomorrow"
''Goodr' cried Amy That's what
call perseverance.
.'Hush' cried Bessie. '.I'nl the chair
woman Come, girls, lets proceed TO
business. Mollie, you never know what
things are worth until they are tested, and
so we are going TO test you"
Have pity on me!' pleaded Mollie, in
mock despair. is it to be by the ordeal
of fire, or thuJn SScrews, or whats
No" said Bessie. gravely 1--WE are
not quite educated up u that yet But I
want 10 see if your prac;icing this past
year has amounted to anything, and so
have brought over this sonata for You TO
play as kind OF examination. you k,ow."
And Bessie seated herself in an easy
chair. with what was intended for a look
OF judicial severity.
But I've never seen it before" fall
tered Mollie. And l know | can't plav
it nicely if / feel you are au watching
me"
"'Tisn't very hard" whispered Amy,
encoursgingly.
Il think it's awful sighed Helen. 1T
tried it this morning. and l couldn't get
through six measures.
Mollie settled herself on the piano stool.
turned up the corners u the leaves and
began 10 play n FIRST slowly and with
hesitation. and then :. II increasing clear
ness and strength, and, as she became
more interested. with a nicely Of touch
and an intelligence Of expression that re-
vealed the benefit OF the past years care
full practice. As she struck the last chord
she faced her small audience with an aIr
of pardonable pri,ie, and asked triumph
antly: We'll. Bessie. what do YOU think
of ten minutes day nOw!''
Bessie's look of severity vanished. and
she sprsng from her chair and gave her
friend a most undigniiied hug. You've
done beautifully" she cried. II knew
ycu would all the time. But it's in me
10 be perverse, and thought it might in
spire you 10 have an unbelieving creature
like me around. did il for your good.
my dear" she added sagely
That night, when Nollie retired 10 her
room, she noticed on her bureau two small
drawings that bore the marks of Helen's
pencil. One was the picture of little
girl perched on high piano stool and
practicing, with marvelously long fingers,
and an expression that was evidently in
tended for fierce determination. This
rather weak looking portrait was entitled
Past Perseverance. The other WAS the
figure OF tall and striking young lady in
a much beribhoned and benowered gown
standing by piano, in the act of making
a profound courtesy TO an unseen audi
ence, while bouquets OF enormous proper
tons were falling at her feet This truly
extraordinary work Of art was labeled
Future Fame" Mollie had hardly ex-
amined them when she caught sight OF n
paper fastened TO pin cushion and bear
ing these words, in Amy's delicate hand
writing, but signed with Bessie's name:
Ye lads and iassies musical.
Come, listen while ye may;
The only way to learn to play
Is TO practice every day
This is Miss MoIie Winthrop.
Who practiced faithfully
And now she's the greatest prodigy
The world did ever see.
And IL you would BE- ike her
You must with patience play,
Your scales and exercises
Ten minutes every day.
Mollie laughed merrily over these char
acteristic verses. and then she said,
thoughtfully, ayes, it's really been "A
success, and it's such very little thing
TO do. Oh, wish every girl would try I'll
I'm sure they would IL they only knew
how well it's paid. christian Union.