Year: 1879

need you have to try. It is easy enough
for my part, never will make anyone
wait for me, go without being ready, if
need be, or stay behind" I had come
to talk very plainly to her, out Of good
will, as well as sometimes from vexation
of spirit. For the twentieth time she
would tell me how truly she had meant
to be punctual in some cases, and that she
should have been SO, but that she was
hindered when nearly ready by some un-
fcrseen occurances. 'But my dear, un-
forseen hindrances will often occur, and
you must lay your account with them and
give yourself extra time. You will run
the risk of meeting some great calamity
by trusting as you do till the last minute"
And the calamity did befall her. Mr.
Alllbone spent day with us. We were
anticipating with great pleasure second
visit, when telegram arrived requesting
Jenny to meet him in Boston on the sue
ceeding morning, business emergency
having summoned him abroad very sud
denly. he was to leave for Liverpool in
the evening. We all sympathized with
Jenny in the startling effect of this sudden
announcement, and offered her every sort
of help when the hour for her departure
was at hand. She had only to compose
herself and prepare herself for the journey.
Sister Bell would arrange her hair and
bring her dress, and she would be spared
ali effort. She seemed grateful, but
she was sure she could be ready without
troubling any one. She dreamed not
how much she was even troubling us, for
we we're beginning to tremble lest she
should somehow manage to be" late for
this, her only train. She kissed us all
twice over when the hackman came to
the door, but suddenly glancing in the
glass and observing how pale
she was, she declared against wearing
the gray cashmere, in which she
was dressed, of a hue so like
her face. George must not meet her
thus. She seized her black silk. in
which, in-spite of remonstrances, she
proceeded to array herself. There was
time enough; the carriage must be too
early. Alas for the ripping out of gath
ers, in the violence of her haste and for
the looping of her skirt, not to be dis
pensed with. Horses could not be made
to do the work of five minutes in three.
She saw the cars move off without her.
No WORDS were called for. Mother car
ried glass of wine to the poor girl and
left her alone to her tears. They would
do her good. We ourselves needed rest,
after the troubled scene of hurry and ex-
citement, and we sat down, feeling as if a
whirlwind had passed.


"It is beyond my comprehension, said
my father, when he came home to dinner.


II can understand tardiness," heTcon-
tinued categorically, ''as the result of in.
dolence. Lazy people dread effort and
postpone it. There is man in nv en-
ploy who continues to work sometimes
after hours. The men tell me that he is
actually too lazy to leave off work and
put away his tools. But Miss Jeanette
seems active and energetic"


"She miscalculates, papa," said I.
"She always imagines there is plenty of
time until the last minute.'>


"But herein is the mystery" persisted
my father. "Whence this uniformity of
derelictians Why not sometimes too
early and sometimes just in the right time,
instead of always and everywhere late
and making others late?" 'Poor girl"
sad my mother; II pity her with all nv
heart, yet it is not case of life and death
This trial may be attended with beneficial
results. We will hope so. I am sorry
that this hope was apparently not to be
realized" Jeanette recovered her
serenity and resumed her tardy WAYS. A
yet severer lesson was needed, and it came.
The steamer in which, after an absense OF
ten or twelve weeks, George Allibone was
to embark for home, vas lost, and not
passenger saved. My father took me at
once to my poor stricken friend in her
distant home. Pale and dumb with grief,
yet with fearless eyes, she let us take her
almost lifeless hand. From her bloudless
lips came only the low, anguished cry,
slf only I had said FAREWELL" What
comfort in words? We offered none. NV
fathers ewes brimmed over, and my heart
was breaking for my poor Jeanette. But
relief came speedily. The joyful news
was received that George was sale.
having made a necessary change in
his plans, and would arrive in fortnight.
Jeanette came up from the depths.
What should her thank offering be? She
made the resolution to become at once
faithful to her appointments, prompt and
reliable. 1t was not that she would try,
she would speak the commanding words,
~ will" She has kept her resolution
Writing to me, after lapse of year, she
said: "You will hardly know your dila-
tory friend. ( remember and practice
your advice of former years, to be first
ready for my appointments and to reserve
other work for the interval of waiting
after am ready. It is surprising how
often l find not moment left for wait
ing. Still feel the old tendency to pro-
crastinate, and am obliged steadfastly to
resist it. Delays are dangerous as our old
writing copies used to run; the senti
ment is hackneyed, but oh, how true.
George says he owes you ten thousand
thanks for your faithful counsel, and we
shall speak them when you make us the
visit of whom we teel so sure, because
your promises, as well know, are faith
fully kept" M X.
ORIGIN Of Watar.C1rn