The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1893-12-29
A BOYS ROOM.
His Experience at Taking Care Of
It Himself.

"Where is my vest? Oh, here its
Just where / SHE'D it last night"
Fred picked up his vest from behind
the bed. and then looked around for his
collar.
Il wonder, now, if that collars been
carried off to the wash! DUST 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 a little
while, off it goes. Oh, here tits. l for
got I was standing by the window
when I took it off, and left it on the
sill. But it's all limp. Dear me, what
a drawer | wonder who interferes
with nv things? I'm sure 1 never got
it into such middle as this
Stirring among collars and neckties,
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.
"Now, my necktie. Where did l put
the one / wore in the morning, when L
dressed in the afternoon? OF course,
some one was in here Strengthening up
nv room. never know where to lind
ANYTHING after that. Come in.''
Fred turned face full Of abused eX-
press.on toward the door as his moth
er's entrance followed her tap upon 1T.
"Gond morning. Are you ready for
break fast. dear? Here is one of your
necktieS"
Eyes, the very one was looking for.
Who took it away?"
.sSusan carried away for the wash the
clothes you took off when you dressed,
and this was among them. You must
have thrown it down."
.sYes, l knew somebody must have
been here.
my dear boy" mother looked around
with a discouraged face, chow often
must / speak to you about keeping
your things in better ordt You really
get worse and worse. L come in here
and set the room to rights, and by the
next day it will be as untidy as before"
80 mother, tidy may do very well
for girls or women. It's real girls
word, think
Good for either boys or girls. 1 am
sorry to see such an ugly habit growing
with you"
Really, mother" said Fred, with a
return of the injured look, zone would
think from your talk that you thought
it a real sin-that you look upon it as
you might look upon lying or stealing
and such"
mo. But in evil habit is evil, make
the best you can of it. Its Indulgence
of h
character. A person slouchy and SLOW
enlv in his small habits is pretty likely
to be so in the greater thing in his life.
1 wonder you don't find enough incon-
venience from your carelessness to lead
you to wish to improve"
MY carelessness, mother? Why, if
my things could only be left alone, I'd
get along well enough. When l come
INTO the room, never know where to
find anything. because some 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 dignifed 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 a smile.
Entirely? Why, mother, I think it
would be fine"
'Thave great mind to let you try
it," she said.
'Do, mother!' said Fred, eagerly. Il
rever could see the use-with all re-
spect for you, you understand-of this
everlasting sweeping and busting. I'll
agree to take entire charge of the room
if may be LETT to myself"
ssWell," said mother, still with the
smile, II think Susan would better
make your bed
''No,' interposed Fred. ''Sometimes
have things lying there that 1 don't
want touched"
Then she need only attend to the
washstand. You may bring me any
thing which needs mending, for I'm
afraid that it might make the keeping
of our agreement difficult for me if l
made visits to the ROOM
Il will. want to do the sweeping
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 went
down to breakfast, still smiling.
For a few days Fred rejoiced in his
new-found freedom, as he called it
freedom to fling his things this way
and that, in full assurance that he
would have the delight of finding them
exactly where he had flung them.
But l must say it gets little mo
notonous,' he admitted to himself
with little shake of his head, ofnd
all my coats and vests and trouser:
piled together on the same chair, an6
to hunt among dirty collars for clear
ones Who could have dreamed tina
mother settled up for me so often
But it is privilege to have chance
to keep my specimens just as want t,
keep them"
But even a privilege may be over
done, Fred was obliged to acknowledge
one morning not long after. He hat
brought friend in to see his geologic
al specimens and his collection of but
terfiies.
AS usual, he had set things out of hi
hands just where it was most con
venient to set them. Arriving at hom
rather late in the eve ming, he had conn
in hastily and gone , bed in the dark
having forgotten to bring up AM
matches.
Well" he exclaimed, sitting up i,
bed to take rather disconsolate view
of his surroundings, ''if chose to con
fess it. | wouldn't mind having mothe,
and Susan toto slirmish about her,
for awhile. How did l come to Sc
those trays and boxes on the foot q