more than the lustrous stars are wearied by moving regularly and harmoniously in their appointed cycles; while the dolce far niente of the Italians would be more fatiguing to her than the most uninviting labor.
But it was not this circumstance, strange as the fact appears, which excited our admiration and wonder. The puzzling question is, how comes it that her work always brings forth a richer fruition. than the industry of others? To all appearance, she moves less quickly than some of her companions. Certes, her needle does not fly faster, nor her pen run more fleetly, nor her eyes speed over the pages of a book more rapidly than theirs. Nor are her feet swifter, nor have her hands a more quicksilver motion. Still, when scanning eyes take a silent account of what has been achieved each day, it is always placid, unpretentious Mabel who can show the largest positive results. How and why is this?
For a space that question remained unanswered in our mind. But, watching our sweet Mabel as she glided noiselessly through her day, we plucked the secret out of this mystery. It lay in Mabel's use of her "spare moments," little "odds and ends" of time, intervals between anticipated events, pauses which people generally allow to slip by unfilled, while they are waiting for what is about to happen; the summons to a meal not punctually served; the arrival of a belated friend; the com-
