The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-03-26
Mollie's ready answer waiting TO be

I Moiiie feauy answer. w Ntthp 10 w
taken ont tho minute reach EIsie's TO-.
morrow afternoon
"Oh, Helen" exclaimed Amy, ",lO tell
us about Daisy Bliss party. have not
1 heard a word, and | am just longing TO
know"
Consequently Helen launched into one
OF those lengthy and comprehensive de-
scriptions 30 delightful TO girlish hearts.
And rs she felt quite in her native ele-
ment, and no interesting detail had es-
capped her observaat eyes, il bid fair to
rival 'the story without an end" and
was only concluded by the ringing Of the
tea bell, which was followed by general
leave taking, when, after repeated kisses
and caresses and many earnest entreaties
/ TO write real often and tell US every
I thing the girls departed.
Il il needless to relate the varied pleas
+ ures Of the next three months suffice 1t
/ that Mollie considered it the loveliest
| summer she had ever spent, and the few
minutes practice had become such mat
( ter OF course that she felt 10 temptation
/ to neglect il.
/ The months glided rapidly by, and, al
| most before she knew II, MOllie found
| herself on the threshold Of another year.
/ She was playing over some OF Eer old
pieces, with happy sense Of her recov-
cred power, when Bessie Arlington APP
| peared, followed by Amy and Helen.
We're the visiting committee" she
explained. Come to inquire into the
state OF your accomplishments. | sup
pose you've not forgotten that your year
| is ups'
NO, - said Mollie, laughing. Put l
/ shall commence another one tomorrow"
Good" cried Amy. That's what |
| call perseverance.
"Hushrr cried Bessie. I'm the chair
woman. Come, girls, let's proceed to
| business. Mollic, you never know what
things ere worth until they are tested, aad
so we are going TO test you "
'Have pity on me-" pleaded Mollic, in
mock despair. as it to be by the ordeal
Of fire, or thumbscrews, or whatY
"No," said Bessie, gravely. we arc
not ante educated up 10 that yet. Dut
want to see il your practicing this past
year has amounted to anything, and 50
have brought over this sonata for you to
play as kind of examination, you know"
And Bessie seated herself in an easy
chair. with what was intended for look
Of judicial severity.
"But I've never seen it before, fall
tered Mollic. "And / know | can't play
it nicely if feel you are all watching
me
"'Tish't very hard, whispered Amy,
encouragincly.
Il think it's awful, " sighed Helen. II
tried it this morning, and | couldn't get
through six measures.
Molle settled herself on the piano stool,
turned up the corners Of the leaves and
began to play at first slowly and with
hesitation, and then with Increasing clear
ness and strength, and, IS she became
more interested, with Il 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 pardouahlc prize, and asked triumph
antly: well, Bessie, what do you think
of ten minutes day now!'
Besses look of severity vanished and
she spraug from her chair and gave her
friend a most undi9nifej hug you've
done beautifully" she cried 81 knew
you would all the time. But IT'S in me
TO be perverse, and thought It might in
spire you 10 have sn unbelieving creature
Ike me around did it for your good,
my DEAR" she added sagely.
That night, when Moilie retired to 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,
nrt, - t1trf Ia,
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
much beribbOned and bellowered gown,
standing by piano, IN the act Of making
profound courtesy 10 an unseen audi
ence, while bouquets of enormous proper
tions were falling at her feet This truly
extraordinary work of art was labeled
Future Fame MOllie had hardly cX-
amined them when she caught sight Of
paper fastened to pin cushion and bear
ing these words, in Amy's delicate hand
writing, but signed with Bessies name;
Ye lads and iassies musical
Come listen while ye may
Inc only way to learn TO play
Is TO practice every day.
This is Miss Noble Winthrop
Who practiced faithfully
And now she's the greatest prodigy
The world did ever see
And If you would be like her,
You must with patience play,
Your scales and exercises
Ten minutes every day.
Mollie laughed merrily over these char
acteristc verses, and then she said,
thoughtfully, Yes, it's really been
success, and it's such a very little thing
TO do Oh, wish every girl would try it
I'm sure they would If they only knew
how well it's paid christian Union.
A Novelist's Wasted Youth.
Opie Red editor OF The ATkansaw
Traveller and author Of the forthcoming
r I'll