Tombstone epitaph., 1891-01-11

Moliie's ready answer. 'fWaitins tc bs
 taken out the minute reach ElSis's ic-
 morrow afternoon.
 ooh, IIelen," exclaimed Amy, "dc tel us about Daisy Bliss party. l have not heard word, aud am just longing to know"
 Consequently Helen launched into ono of those lengthy and comprehensive, de ] scriptions so delightful to girlish hearts, And as she felt quite in her native ele- ment, and no interesting detail hadSes. capped her observant eyes, it bid fair to rival "the story without an end," and was only concluded by the ringing of the tea he'll. which was followed by a general leave taking, when, after repeated kisses and caresses and many earnest entreaties to "write real often and tell us evoty- thing" the girls departed.
 It is needless to relate the varied pleas ures of the next three months; suffice 1t that Mollie considered it the lovel'est summer she had ever spent, and the few minutes practice had become such mat
 ter of course that she felt no temptation to neglect it.
 The months glided rapidly by, and, al- most before she knew it, M0llie found herself on the threshold of another year. She was playing over some of her old pieces, with happy sense of her recov- cred power, when Bessie Arlington ap- peared, followed by Amy and Helen. "We're the visiting committee," she explained. ''Come to inquire into the state of your accomplishments. I cup pose you've not forgotten that your SOaf Is up?"
 "No," said Mollie, laughing. "But shall commence another one tomorrow"
 "GoodI' cried Amy. "That's what I call perseverance"
 "Hushr' cried Bessie. "I'm the chair
 woman. Come, girls, let's proceed to business. Molle, you never know what things are worth until they are tested, and 80 we are going to test you" "Have pity on mer' pleaded Mollie, in mock despair. ''Is it to be by the ordeal of fire, or thumbscrews, or whatS'' "No," said Bessie, gravely "We are not quite educated up to that yet. But I want to see if your practicing this past year has amounted to anything, and so 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 fol look | of judicial severity.
 4 tered Mollic. "And know can't play 1t nicely if I feel you are all watching me-"
 "'Tisn't very hard," whispered Amy, encoursgingly. t- | "I think it's awful" sighed Helen. "l
 tried it this morning, and couldn't get | through six measures" | Mollie 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, as she became | more interested, with nicety 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 aii of pardonable pride, and asked triumph,
 Rntly: "Well, Bessie, what do you think
 of ten minutes day nOw?' Bessie's look of severity vanished, and
 she sprang from her chair and gave her
 friend most undignified hug. "You;ve
 done beautifully" she cried. "I knew
 you would all the time. But it's in me
 to be pervcrse, and thought it might in.
 spire you to have an unbelieving creature
 like 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 lIelcn's pencil. Onn was the picture of q little | girl perched on high piano stool and | practicing, with marvclously long fingers, | and an eXpre ssion that was evidently in. | tended for fierce determination. This
 rather weak looking portrait was entitled "Past Persevt rance" The other was ths | Egure of a tall and striking young lady i,. a much beribboned and betlowered gown, standing by piano, in the act of making | 8 profound courtesy to an unseen audi ence, while bouquets of enormous propor- lions were fallil g at her feet This truly extraordinary work of art was labeled Future Fame." Mollie had hardly cx- amined them when she caught sight of laper fastered to pin cushion and bear ing these ortiS in Amy's delicate hand
 9yit!ng, b'At signed with Besse's name: Ye lads and lassies musical, Come, listen while ye may; The ony way to learn to play Is to practice every day. This is Miss Mollie Winthrop, Who practked faithfully, And now she's the greatest prodigy The world did ever see. And if you would be like her, YoI must with patience play, You scales and exercises Ten minutes every day. Mollie laughed merrily over these char acteristi, verses, and then she said. thoughtfuily, "Yes, it's really been u success and it's such very little thing 10 do. Oh, wish every girl would try it I'm sue they would if they only knew Sow well it's paid "-Christan Union.