The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-01-25

"James have you seen the hatchetY"
asked Mr.. Carter coming into the
room where the children were study
ing their lessons.
20 father 1 left it out on the
bench yesterday. ! forgot to bring it
iul"
"And it rained all night" said his
father. "Will you ever learn to re-
member, james,
eJim WOULD lose his head lift wasn't
fast to his shoulders" said Tom,
laughing, "shall l get you my
Ratchet, father? / manage to keep
it since stopped lending it to James,
the forgetful."
"James did you post the letter l
gave you this morning." asked his
mother, looking up from her sewing,
at this moment.
30 mamma! l met George Hayes,
and he took me to see his new sqir-
rel, and"
"You forgot the letter Well, my
son, you will have to bear the pen
atty of your carlessnesS this time
yourself, Your Uncle Will wrote to
invite you to spend your birthday
with him, and was to meet you at
the station, The letter you forgot
was an acceptance of the invitation,
but it is too late now to send it."
20 mammal why did you not tell
me?"
because wish ifpossible to have
you remember such errands as a duty
to me, not a pleasure to be gained for
yourself"
James looked very blue for a mo-
ment, then he looked up, bravely
crushing back his tears.
will try to remember, after thisl
| will scour up the Ratchet, father,
and l must try to have a good time
at home on my birthday"
But this voice quivered little here,
for day at Uncle Wills was a pleas
ure not easily given up. Uncle Will
lived in the city, and was very apt
to find time to visit the Museum or
give some equally rare treat to his
little country relatives when they
came to yisithim.
For some weeks after this sharp
lesson, James Carter tried so hard to
overcome his great fault of forgotful-
ness that his parents began to hope
he was learning to remember such
directions as they gave him, and the
little habit of carefulness that make
up so much of a comfort of a family.
His books were found in the proper
place, and his hat upon its own peg,
and his share of choring was perform
ed at the regular time. But, little
by little, the old habit returned, at
first in trifling matters, but gradual
ly extending, as before, to errands of
Importance, or neglect of imperative
duties.
81 forgot" was heard again, as be-
fore, as the excuse for neglect and in
attention, till it really seemed as if
the bad habit had become second ma
ture.
Buttherc came ono day in the boys
life when a forgot" brought him such
terror and sorrow that it passed his
lips, then for the last time.
Mr., and Mrs. Garter, the parents
of the lad whose story l am now writ
ing, had several children, but the
darling and pet of the nursery flock
was little May, the three year-old ba-
by, with golden curls and blue eyes
that her brothers thought must look
Just as those of the angels did. She
was the baby, and the only girl in
six children; so she was a perfect lit
tie queen among them.
The beautiful autumn days had
come, and one Saturday, when the
children had half holiday, a sharp
frost gave promise of nutting in the
woods, nearly a mile from home
Great preparations were made for a
day of pleasure, and baby May seeing
the excitement, put up very pitiful
face and begged to go with the boys.
80! let her go, mamma. We will
carry her if she is tired" said James.
Mamma hesitated a little, but final
ly consented, saying:
Remember, James, you are the
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