Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-12-23
NEW YEAR RESOLVES.

Good Traits Which Do Not Belong to
the s.MuH," But the Real, Hearty. Man
ly Boy.
While the year is young we, one and
all, examine ourselves, and many are
the good resolves we make to have a
fair, clear record when the New Year
shall have become old. If / were n boy,
full of warm, healthfui glow. eagerly
longing to do good-and who can tell?
perhaps some great things, tool
should resolve to cultivate kind and
polite manners, and use them at home.
| should try to deal very gently with
the little sisters, though l didn't care
two straws about their dollies or kit
tens, and couldn't help being annoyed
with their mischievous pranks.
And then should try to help mother,
when she looks so tired and worn. If
her arm aches from carrying the teeth
ing baby, it would not be amiss to coax
him away for an hour or SO. Right
here comes in another victorv-con-
quering your own spirit and love of
ease. Do mean that L should forget
to be real. live boy, spend all the time
in work, wear long face, and forget
to laugh? No, indeed; and should
not forget, when man, that ''all work
and no play makes Jack a dull boy"
/ should talk with parents and teach
ers about the lives of successful men,
and endeavor early in youth to find out
what / could do best, and learn to use
my eyes, ears, brains and limbs to some
advantage to others as well as myself.
I should feel that, if I could not be the
President, [ could be an honest wood
cutter. doing the work so deity and
well that double pay should be mine,
and my labor would be in demand.
And then, early in youth is just the
time to begin self-denying and shun-
ming hurtful habits, beginning with
saying mol" to, the schoolmate who
should ask me to read the trashy, sem
sational books, full of impossible adj
ventures for the youths, instead of mas
tering the dry arithmetical problems,
though the teacher might not be look
ing, and the book appeared interesting.
Another resolve will prove difficult
task; but I certainly shouldn't sleep
late in the morning, though the blankets
be ever so soft and warm, and the air
singing cold. Such a victory the
sleepy boy gains over himself who
springs" from his warm couch, gets a
little wood and water for the kitchen,
and meets with a bright face the family
at breakfast.
In the list of sef-denyings and help
full habits place learning to care for
the penn1es," and taking care of per-,
sonal property, clothing, toys, books,
and the like. Boys should know the
money value of comforts and luxuries,
and to early help themselves to be just,
but not misery. 1t requires resolutions
for both big and little boys to pass
windows full of tempting candies and
fruits, or beautiful marbles and tops,
when a few pennies jingle in the
pockets; yet if the pennies are saved
until sufficient sum is gotten together,
a good paper or youths magazine can
be ordered, which is a constant delight
and helper toward future benefits.
Our American young people are ac-
cused of lacking generation and respect
for the aged. A boy seeking to turn
over new leaf upon New Years Day
can not afford to forget this point.
Courtesy and good manners are often
the means of smoothing the whole life
path of the boy and man. By good
manners do not mean foppishness, but
a manly, respectful bearing and defer
ence paid to the wishes of others. tbs
only the savages who ''shelve' the old
folks when their usefulness is over.
Assumed courtesy is easily detected.
There is only one way to wear it as
we'll fitting garment, and that is to
treat well every man, woman and child,
and I must add the dumb. animals.
These latter learn quickly what good
treatment means. By so doing the
kindly feeling becomes second nature,
and the, outside courtesy easy and not
strained. To curb the hot, quick tenn
per, and restrain bitter, biting words,
when angered or wounded, is an uphill,
difficult task. and many failures must
occur before the naughty spirit can be
ruled; yet perseverance, makes this re-
solve possible.
No! The boy I have pictured is not
nruff; his laugh and: shout ring out
loudly in town ball, black man and
pommel-pull-away; he wears out the
knees of his trousers, and is continually
out at the elbows. In the winter, snow;
balling. skating and coesting claim
every moment of bis spare time. In
deed. the keeping of one-half his New
Year resolves costs, him an effort. So
much the better; it proves that he is in
earnest, and no weak. halfway boy.
Little by little he gains the victory ever
self, while having a genuine good time
and gaining store of strength, 5oth
physical and mental. which will enable