Tombstone epitaph., 1891-01-11


 "oh, Helen,'s exclaimed Amy, ''1e tssl as als,Gt Dassy Dliss' ;s..rty- { have Tta,s heard word. and aua just longing to knowm
 Consequently Heler launched into one of those lengthy and comprehensive dc Ecriptions so delightful to girlish hearts. And ss sine felt quite in her native ele- isBeIss, anu no interesting detail had ess caped her observant eyes, if bid fair to rival .'the story without an eid n and was only concluded by the ringing of the tea tsell which was followed by 6 general leave taking, when. after repeated kisses snd caresses and many earnest entTeasies to ''yrite real often and tell us eySfy- thing, the girls departed.
 it is needless 10 relate ths varied pleas urss Of the next three months; suffice it that Nellie considered it the lOgelszt summer she had ever spent, and the few naiuuias' nsacfzee had heee.es Sssea mat ter of course that she felt no temptation to neglect it.
 The months glided rapidly by, ana, sI- most before she knew it. Mollis found herself on the threshold Of another year. Sbe was playing over some of her old pieces, with happy sense of her TecOF- 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 sup pose you've not forgotten that your year Is ups''
 'sNo, $ said Nellie, laughing. "But shall commence another one tomorrow.
 ''GOodf' cried Amy. That's what I sail perseverance,.
 'fIushTf cried Bessie. ''I'rn the chair NE#Fa business. Mollie, you never know what things are worth until they are tested, and sa we are going to test youn
 Have pity 0n meT' pleaded Mollie, in mock despair. els it 10 be by the ordeal of fire, or thumbserews, or whats''
 No" said Bessie, gravely "We are not quite educated up to that yet. But want to see if your practlcing tbis past year has amounted to anything. and so nave brought over this sonata for you Go play as kind of examination, yoe know. " And Bessie seated herself in an easy chair, with what was intended foI lock of Judicial severity,
 But I've never seen it betore,n fsi- tered Nellie. And know I can't play It nicely if feel you are all watching me-
 "'risn't very hard" whispered Amy, snconrs gingly.
 ''I think it's awful, {" sighed Helen. 'T tried it this morning, and I 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 Grst 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 ful practice. As she struck the last chord she tsoed her small audience with aa al of pardaRable pride, and asked triumph snFly: ''WeIl, Bessie, what do you think of ten minutes day uOwy''
 Bessie's look of severity vanished, and she spraag from her chair and gave her friend a most undiguified hug 'sYou'vs done beautifully" she cried. q knew you would all the time. But it's in me ] 10 be perverse, and l thought it might ip- spire you Co have an HnbeiieYiHg cEeature like me around. did it for your good, my dear, '' she added sa.Cly. That night, when NyIlfe retired to her room, she noticed on her bureau C wO small drawings that bore the marks uf iisivu's pencil One was the picture Os a little girl perched on hiGh piano stool aud practicing, with maFFe!oT1sly bong fingers, and an expression that was evidently iI tended for fierce determination. This rather weak looking portrait was entitled 'iPast Perseyerzuee. " Tue 8Eber wBs tbs l figure OE tall aad striking young lady il. i 6 much beribhoRel and befiogeTed gown, standing by piano, in the act ct making l 2 profound courtesy 10 an unseen audi ! snee, while bouquets Of enormous prgpcT- 5ons were falling at her feet. This truly i extraordinary work of grt was 2afF!el Future Fame" Mollie had hardly ex- ! s1nined them when she caught sight Of c 1 papcr fastened to pin cushion and bear. l Ing these WoTyiz, in Amy's delicate hand i sTTftsng, bnt signed with Bessie's name: Ye lads and lassiss musical, - | Coms listen while ys may; The only wsysS0 learn to play Isto practice every dag. l Thls i Mss H, IIs winthrop, Who practs1 ed faithfully. | Assd DOW she's Inc srsstest prodigy ! The sWoEid ai8 ever sec i And f you pouId be Ike her, You raast with patience play. Your scaiss and exercises Tea minutes every day. Nellie laughed nserriiy oyer these char 1 acteristie verses, and then sEe sad. | skgughrfuIly, "Yes, it's really been 8 eths-eAe1 AAN ID 70 eAsl-s e 'CAt AsN4Al tatttA- I .o do Oh, wish every girl woRld try it l I'm sure they would fl tEey only knew l sow sren it's paid ''--Christian Union I 4 Neset,st's Wasted Toufh- Opie Ried, editor of The ArkansaW | r-avelcr aud author Of the forthcoming l aogsl. 'sI.eu Gausctt, v tells me aa inter 1 sssfae story about Thomas Nelson Page, | who was made famous by the charming i little story, -Isb Lady, 'r Pssllislied two | or three years ago in The Century. Pagt {, was a p0Gr boy struggling against his vers