Sometimes the letters and papers would accumulate upon his desk for a week or ten days, simply because the effort to put away each letter as it was read and answered, and each paper as it was used, seemed so great when compared with the trifling matter to be accomplished, as to appear a waste of effort, notwithstanding time enough would be spent in reading the newspapers, conversation, or sitting idly about, to do all this three or four times over.  When confusion reached its climax, then he would go to work most vigorously, and in a few hours reduce all to order.  But usually some important paper was lost or mislaid, and could not be found at the time when most needed.  It generally happened that this great effort was not made until he had been going to do it for three or four days, and not then until the call for some account or other commercial paper, which was nowhere to be found, made a thorough examination of what had been accumulating for some time in his drawers and on his desk necessary.  He was not always fortunate in discovering the object of his search.

Notwithstanding this minor defect in Paul’s character, his great shrewdness and thorough knowledge of business made him a successful merchant.  In matters of primary interest, he was far-seeing, active, and prompt, and as these involved the main chance, his worldly affairs were prosperous.  Whatever losses he encountered were generally to be traced to his neglect of little matters in the present, to his habit of “going to do,” but never doing at the right time.

Not only in his business, but in his domestic affairs, and in every thing that required his attention, did this disposition to put off the doing of little things show itself.  The consequences of his neglect were always disturbing him in one way or another.  So long as he alone suffered, no one had a right to complain; but it is not to be supposed that such a fault as he was chargeable with could exist and not affect others.

One day while Paul was at his desk, a young lady, dressed in deep mourning, came into his store and asked to see him.  The clerk handed her back to where his principal was sitting, who bowed low to the stranger and offered her a chair.  The young lady drew aside her veil as she seated herself, and showed a young and beautiful face that was overcast with a shade of sadness.  Although Paul never remembered having seen the young lady before, he could not help remarking that there was something very familiar in her countenance.

“My name is Miss Ellison,” said the stranger, in a low, tremulous voice.  “I believe you know my mother, sir.”

“Oh, very well,” quickly returned Paul.  “You are not Lucy Ellison, surely?”

“Yes, sir, my name is Lucy,” returned the young lady.

“Can it be possible?  Why, it seems but yesterday that you were a little girl.  How rapidly time flies!  How is your mother, Miss Ellison?  She is one of my old friends.”