26 THE WORLD'S WORKERS. 



chief object of her life the prosecution of her studies. 

 Still she practised music diligently, still she continued 

 to paint, and still she took her part in domestic 

 affairs ; and as all this left very little time for her be- 

 loved algebra, she resolved to rise every morning at 

 daybreak and work problems or classics till break- 

 fast-time. This method answered admirably, and 

 many an hour Mary Fairfax thus gave to study, 

 sitting meanwhile in her bed wrapped in a blanket, 

 on account of the cold. Can we wonder that she 

 made rapid progress ? 



Part of her method of work is well worth the 

 attention of young students. While studying, she 

 studied most diligently, but she found again and again 

 that after reading for a certain time, and becoming 

 fatigued to a certain point, she seemed to lose the 

 power of fixing her attention. When this feeling 

 came over her she invariably stopped at once, and 

 took up something fresh ; for she tells us that if, feel- 

 ing unnerved and fagged, she tried to continue read- 

 ing, she did more harm than good ; but if she turned 

 away from study entirely for a time, she returned to 

 it in a little while fresh and eager. School girls would 

 do well to remember the experience of Mary Fairfax 

 in this way. No greater mistake can be made when 

 learning lessons than to pore over a book after one 

 has become bewildered and dazed. The sensation of 

 discomfort is Nature's hint that work has gone on 

 long enough, and that it is time for play. Nature's 



