The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-05-29
"DILlGENT IN BUSINESS"

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
minute. He said this. so often that 1
wondered he was not called ''in
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 think that Mrs. Grinnell was the
one upon whom the burden rested.
Every morning after breakfast she
found it necessary to ask:
Howard, have you fed the hens?"
Not yet, but l am going to-"
well, go right away, or you will
forget it.
mo, | will not forgot, l am going
in minute; l 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 I'M
der the mantel, will you, mammal"
''Thank you, dear, they are beauti-
full! | will arrange them at once"
Then, as she turned away: 1.-The
hensP"
80, l forgot! I'll go 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"
"Sir?" 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 | will do
1T 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
r.oprriraH nd Al
examination of a weed which had
sprung up in the yard and which was
a new one to him. The next morning
he remembered the hens, but the Sec
'ond morning, though remembering,
he thought of something he wished to
hunt up in the cyclopadia, and
stopped in the library until the break
fast bell rang.
For breakfast there was ham and
eggs, and corn mullins. Howard was
a little surprised when his father
passed him plate with only potato
on it. He was about to demonstrate,
when he caught the significant look
on his mothers face, and remembered
the compact. He wisely made the
best of it, and decided that he would
try bowl of bread and milk.
After breakfast Mr. Grinnell fed the
hens, and at night he brought in the
eggs, saying to his wife:
g | would like some boiled eggs for
supper; as Bridget is away, we can
get along very well with bread and
butter and eggs Didn't | see you
making a sponge-cake this morning?"
yes" Then they both laughed,
but Mr.. Grinnell sobered Immediately
and said
1T is rather hard on the boy when
he is so fond of eggs, but it is quite
time he had lesson. His dilatory
habits will be a hindrance to his sue
cess as long as he lives unless he is
cured"
Now, privately, do not believe that
Mr.. or Mrs. Grinnell enjoyed their
supper of boiled eggs and sponge cake
/ know the mother would much rather
have eaten dry bread and given the
boy her supper, but she and her hus-
band chatted over the meal as if every
thing were quite as usual. Howard
ate his bread and butter, missing the
canned fruit which Mrs. Grinnell re-
marked she thought they could do
without as they had the extra indul-
gence of boiled eggs. Now 1 do not
suppose any of you boys are surprised
to hear that Howard, after asking to be
excused some time before his father
and mother were through with their
supper, banged the door slightly as he
left the room.
However, the next morning the hens
received attention at the proper time.
And so far as that one duty was con-
-cerned he did not need another lesson,
but he was not yet made over into the
prompt boy which his father desired
him to be- That wood-box! o, boysl
Do you shrug your shoulders and say:
81 don't blame himP" The wood-box
is dread to boys, well know. How
ard did not particularly dislike the
work of filling the box, but he was
never quite ready to do it. He was al
ways putting it off until he had fin
ished reading the morning paper, or