“And I’ll try, too, Uncle. I’ll try till I conquer.”
CHAPTER VII.
Jessie’s First Great Victory.
After dinner Jessie went to her room and sat awhile, on a cricket with her head leaning on a chair. She was thinking. I cannot tell you exactly what passed in her mind, while she was in that brown study, because she never told me. You can guess, however, when I tell you that after thinking some five minutes, she rose up, and going to her table, took a pencil and wrote these words in big letters, on a sheet of note paper:
“I will not go out to play again until I have finished my quilt. This is my strong resolution, and I mean to keep it, in spite of the little wizard that tempts me so. He has beaten me a great many times, but he shan’t do it again, as true as my name is Jessie Carlton.”
Taking the paper from the table, Jessie held it between her finger and thumb, read it, and then left the room, saying to herself—
“There, that’s a good resolution. I’ll keep it in sight all the time; and if the little wizard comes near me, I’ll spear him with it just as Uncle Morris says the fairies pierce the gnats with their bodkins. Let me see. How long will it take to finish my quilt? Only two more rows of squares to sew on. Well, I can sew one row this afternoon and the other to-morrow morning. Oh good! I’ll ask ma to get it into the quilting-frame to-morrow afternoon, and have it finished while I work the slippers. Won’t it be nice if the quilt and slippers are both ready by Christmas! Perhaps I can get the watch-pocket done too. Well, I’ll try, see if I don’t. I can conquer little Impulse if I try, and I will. You shall see if I don’t, you dear, good Uncle Morris, you.”
All this was said as Jessie walked down-stairs. She looked very pleasantly, and trod the carpet with a very firm step, as she went to her cosy little chair in front of the bright fire which glowed in the grate that November afternoon. She was slightly chilled through sitting in her chamber, but without stopping to get warm, she took up her work, and began to ply her needle in good earnest.