"I do want to please the Lord Jesus and to be kind and helpful to the poor." "I am glad to hear it; but you must be willing to undertake less if you can not do so much without neglecting other, and more important duties.
Did you bring home an extra quantity of work from the last meeting of your society ?" "No, sir," and she blushed again as she spoke, "but I--I kept putting off doing it because there was always something else I wanted to do--a story to read, or a game to play, or a bit of carving, or something pleasanter than sewing--till Grace reminded me there was only one day left, and then I hurried over my lessons and composition and worked as hard and fast as I could at the sewing." "Ah," he said, "it is an old and very true saying that 'Procrastination is the thief of time.' The only way to accomplish much in this world is to have a time for each duty, and always attend to it at that set time.
"If you want to go on with this Dorcas work you must set apart some particular time for it, when it will not interfere with other duties, and resolve not to allow yourself to use that time for anything else." "Unless my father orders me ?" she said half inquiringly, half in assertion, and with an arch look and smile.
"Yes; there may be exceptions to the rule," he replied returning the smile.
"Now we have talked long enough on this subject and must begin to put in practice the rule I have just laid down." "Yes, sir; I have my ciphering to do now.

But, papa, must I learn the lessons over and rewrite the composition this afternoon?
If you say I must, I'll have to miss the meeting of our society.

I'd be very sorry for that and ashamed to have to tell why I wasn't there.

Please, papa, won't you let me go, and do my work over after I get back?
There'll be an hour, or more before tea and then all the evening." He did not answer immediately, and she added, with a wistful, pleading look, "I know I don't deserve to be let go, but you've often been a great deal better to me than I deserved." "As I well may be, considering how far beyond my deserts are my blessings," he said with a tender smile and another kiss.

"Yes, daughter, you may attend the meeting and I shall hope to hear some excellent recitations from you before you go to your bed to-night." "Oh thank you, dear papa! I'll try my very hardest," she exclaimed joyously, giving him a vigorous hug.
The society met at Ion that day.