Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-09-08
A BOYS ROOM.
His Experience at Taking Care of
1t Himself

just where SHE'D it last night"
Fred picked up his vest from behind
the bed, and then looked around for his
collar.
~ wonder, now, If that collars been
carried off to the wash! just like
Susan! If ever l get hold of one that
fits me better than any other, and
would like to hold on to it for little
while, off it goes. Oh, here It's. for
got was standing by the window
when l took it off, and left it on the
sill. But it's all limp. Dear me, what
drawer! wonder who interferes
with my things? I'm sure | never got
it into such muddle as this"
Stirring among collars and neclIties,
turning things up and down in way
that would lead anyone reasonably to
give him credit for any amount of DIS
order, Fred at length found collar.
Nov, my necktie. Where did l put
the one wore in the morning, when
dressed in the afternoon? OF course,
some one was in here Strengthening up
my room. never know where to find
anything after that, Come in"
Fred turned face full of abused ex-
preston toward the door as his moth
er's entrance followed her tap upon it.
Good morning. Are You ready for
breakfast, dear? Here is one of your
neckties."
Eyes, the very one was looking for.
Who took 1t away?'
''Susan carried away for the wash the
clothes you took off when you dressed,
and this was among them. You must
have thrown it down"
Eyes, | knew somebody must have
been here"
my dear boy" mother looked around
with discouraged face, chow often
must ! speak to you about keeping
your things in better order? You really
get worse and worse. come in here
and set the room to rights, and by the
next day twill be as untidy as before"
80 mother, tidy may do very we'll
for girls or women. It's real girls
word, think"
Good for either boys or girls ] am
sorry to see such an ugly habit growing
with you"
Really, mother" said Fred, with a
return of the injured look, "one would
think from your talk that you thought
it real sin-that you look upon it as
you might look upon lying or stealing
and SUCH"
'No But in evil habit is evil, make
the best you can of IL. It's indulgence
is sure TO have an evil effect upon the
character. A person slouchy aud SLOW
emily in his small habits is pretty likely
TO be so in the greater thing in his life,
wonder you don't find enough incon-
venience from your carelessness to lead
you to wish to improve"
my carelessness mother? Why, il
my things could only be left alone, I'd
get along well enough When | come
into the room, never know where to
find anything, because so one has
been setting things in order. OF course
] don't mean, mother dear, that all you
do is not the very best that could be
done: but boy, you know" Fred put
on a dignificd air, cant be- expected to
be just like girl, and ought, think,
to be allowed to follow out his own
way little in his own room"
GLOW do you think it would work il
you were left to your own way?" said
his mother with smile.
Entirely? Why, mother, think i,
would be fine"
II havc great mind to let you try
it." she said.
"Do, mother!" said Fred, eagerly. 81
rever could see the use-with all re
spect for you, You understand-of this
everlasting sweeping and busting. II
agree to take entire charge of the room
if may be left to myself"
"Well," said mother, still with tn,
smile. II think Susan would better
make your bed"
mo" interposed Fred, sometimes
have things lying there that dom
want touched"
''Then she need only attend to tn,
washstand. You may bring me any
thing which needs mendiug, for In
afraid that it might make the keeping
of our agreement difficult for me if
made visits to the room"
II will. ! want to do tie sweepin,
myself-that is, if it needs any sweep
ing---for Susan always plays the mis-
chief with my specimens.
"You may try it." And mother wen
down to breakfast, still smiling.
For few days Fred rejoiced in hi
new. found freedom, rs he called it
freedom to fling his things this wa.
and that, in full assurance that h
would have the delight of finding then
exactly where he had flung them,
but ! must say it gets little mo
notonous," he admitted TO himself
with little shake of his head, ito fin,
all my coats and vests and trouser
piled together on the same chair, an,
to hunt among dirty collars for cleai
ones. Who could have dreamed tina
mother settled up for me so often
But it is a privilege TO have a chanc
to keep my specimens just as want t
keep them"
But even a privilege may be over
done, Fred was obliged TO acllnowledg
one morning not long after, lie ha
brought friend in to see his geologic
al specimens and his collection of but
teriiies.
As usual, he had set things out of hi
hands Just where it was most cor
venient to set them. Arriving at HON
rather late in the evening. he had com
in hastily and gone to bed in the dark
having forgotten to bring up an
matches
WELL" he exclaimed, sitting up i
bed to take rather a disconsolate vie'
~ HE surronndiuUS eff | chose to COZ