The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-29
ain A MINUTE"
How Howard Was Cured of His Habit of
Demonstration and FOrgetfulness.

How Howard Was Cured of His Habit of
Reconstruction and FOrgetfulness.
If there ever was boy who needed
to turn over new leaf and write at
the top: "Diligent in business" that
boy was Howard Grinnell.
If his mother asked him to do any
thing, he always replied: 81 will in a
minute" He said this so often that l
wondered he was not called sin
a minute" by every body. 1t would
have been very appropriate name.
Howard had the charge of the hens,
at least that was the way they put it,
but l think that Mrs. Grinnen was the
one upon whom the burden rested.
Every morning after breakfast she
found it necessary to ask:
Howard, have you fed the hensP"
mot yet, but 1 am going to-"
"Well, go right away, or you will
forget it."
"No, l will not forgot, l am going
in minute; just want to look at the
weather report. -
Half an hour later Howard appears
from the direction of the east meadow
with his hands full of meadow lilies
which he presents to his mother, say
ing:
1.-THE very first! Put them in the
antique vase, please. And set it UNI
der the mantel, will you, mammaP'
Thank you, dear, they are beauti-
full! l will arrange them at once"
Then, as she turned away: 1.-THE
hens?"
80, forgot! I'll 90 now"
"Seems to me" said Mr.. Grinnell
one morning, "that you have carried
that on your shoulders about long
enough. Howard should attend to his
business without prompting. 1t did
very well at first, but the time has
come when he must be held RESPONSE
BILE for the prompt discharge of the
duty, else take away the privilege.
Howard"
SirP" responded the boy, turning
back on his way to the barn.
''After this you are not to be remind
ed of your work, and if the hens are
not cared for before breakfast l will do
it myself, and you will not have any
benefit from the eggs, either in money
or as food; it will be some little extra
trouble for your mother but you will
be provided with food prepared with
out eggs unless you are faithful to your
trust.
Yes, sir" And Howard went on
his way. do not think he made any
resolutions; he thought it would be
easy enough to attend to the duty as
required, and gave himself up to the
examination of weed which haC
sprung up in the yard and which was
new one to him. The next morning
he remembered the hens, but the sec
ond morning, though remembering
he thought of something he wished t
hunt up in the cyclopedia, anC
stopped in the library until the break
fast bell rang.
For breakfast there was ham ant
eggs, and corn mullins. Howard wa
a little surprised when his fathe
passed him a plate with only potat
on it. He was about to demonstrate
when he caught the significant loo
on his mothers face, and remembered
the compact. He wisely made tn
best of it, and decided that he woul
try a bowl of bread and milk.
After breakfast Mr.. Grinnell fed tn
hens, and at night he brought in tn
pUuS SAVING tO his wife,
Il would like some boiled eggs fc
supper; as Bridget is away, we ca
; get along very well with bread an
butter and eggs. Didn't l see 70
making a sponge-cake this morning?
yes" Then they both laughed
but Mr.. Grinnell sobered Immediate
and said
: lit is rather hard on the boy Whe
| he is so fond of eggs, but it is qui
time he had lesson. His dilatol
habits will be hindrance to his su
cess as long as he lives unless he
4 cured"
Q Now, privately, 1 do not believe tn
Mr.. or Mrs. Grinnell enjoyed the
: supper of boiled eggs and sponge cak
I l know the mother would much rath
r have eaten dry bread and given Z
o boy her supper, but she and her hi
= band chatted over the meal as if eve
l. thing were quite as usual, Howa
9 ate his bread and butter, missing t
d canned fruit which Mrs. Grinneil
r marked she thought they could
s. without as they had the extra ind
g. gence of boiled eggs. Now l do I
D suppose any Of you boys are surpris
'r to hear that Howard, after asking TO