The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-16
THEIR VACATION.
BY MARY II. LOWELL.

Now that vacation has come. / than't
look at a book.
"No l shant, and what is more,
won't.
Il done my share Of solid reading dur
Ing the past term, and | propose TO be
free for two whole months.
Margaret Adamsl you are not going
90 take home school books? Why, you've
actually got a geometry and Latin
books"
Il don't believe in all play and no
work. Mabel. l know you will think me
n terrible boolx-worm when l tell you |
intend to study little, really very
little, every day that / am at home ex-
cept the days that we may take for long
outings
las 1 shall be at home almost all the
vacation, there will be so many spare
moments, and ! need the drill.
Il am so apt to dream away the time IL
! am not on any particular pleasure
bent.
Then you know, Mabel, how hard IT
Is to go back In the fall when one has
been full Of so many other things for so
many weeks. / know, however, that
there will be weeks in which / can't open
one Of these books, there will be SO much
else on hand. for ] do mean to have a
eN''iS bDDN biuit WIS SUMMER.
But Of course you'll read something
Mabel?"
80. yes. I'm going to revel In light
literature in the duh times in the noun
tains and at home.
but none OF your intellectual novels
FOR mer
'"Why, Mabel! thought from your
work last winter that Miss Randall had
succeeded in making you like good novels
and that you had given up those wretched
things you call light"
20, Miss Randall IS n lovely teacher
Out she can't make ne like such lengthy
tresome v crks as those Of Thackeray.
Dickens is pokcy. too. sometimes.
howells IS too same for memo plots
and | can't get interested in society as
he paints II. l want something that
won't make me think-something pleas
ant and Just little romantic and ex-
citingl For school and brain work the
others are well enough.
But you've got a point In opposition.
Margaret"
Those worthless tales are so exhaust
ing You know yourself how tired in
mind and disappointed you are after read
Ing one OF them. Is H. not TO- Mabel?"
II admit that I am dreadfully worked
up over some Of them I've often wondered
how much combinations of love and
death, romance and rathos. beauty and
Villainy, are ever made by any writer
] don't see how older persons are so
unaffected by this kind OF reading"
but We are"
40. now. Margaret, I'll do anything for
you, but don't begin homily by saying
we girls are just at the susceptible age
&c, and should be most careful &c.
y know all that, but I'll tell you, AIarga-
ret, don't realize it!'
well. Mabel. you seem fncorrigibie
but will you. try TO do as I wish. for
awhile. at ieast?'
Your tone is persuasive and suppose
must yield. II it's not too much, how
ever"
''Thank you Mabel. 1t is quite little
request. think. Give your time for
reading this summer to stories-not
novels. though there are many good ones
which will come In later-some Of the
host OF bright stories for young persons
which are full OF noble Inspiration.
There is no need OF my enumerating.
you VIII see them on the library tables.
many OF old publication. many OF more
recent issue. Please do this. Mable, for
our friendships sake
Yes, I'll try and think you are very
good TO me, Margaret"
but what shall you read? For
know you'll be deep in something in the
hot afternoons. when We others lolter
around and complain Of the heat"
IT think We girls are old enough now
Go begin regular Notwithstanding TINT
requires thought and gives ideas and
Inspiration.
81 have kept list OF books that have
come up In connection with our work
nj school. I'll tell you a few on INV
revised list, which is very small
First comes Macaulay-two ESSAYS On
the Earl Of Chatham, one on Give
want 10 study his style, which has been
SO much lauded to me. Then Scott,.
Aenilworth. and Thackeray's -Four