The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-12-08


Have l got to take up these leaves
every day." said Phil, with a whine in
his voice.
Yes, every day"
But what is the use? They keep
on falling, and make just as big litter
as before"
Your room has to be set in order
every day" said his mother, smiling.
Il wouldn't care much if it wasn't"
said Phil.
And your shirts have to be washed
every week. And the dishes you eat
from have to be washed three times
day. You keep on eating, you
know"
Phil could not forbear a smile as he
slowly ralled away at the leaves.
Seems to me / have to do a good
deal of work for other folks" he went
on, nDurnfully. Il have to pile wood
and cut- kindlings and drive the COW
and water the fiowers-and things"
DO you have more to do for others
than others do for you?" asked his
mother.
if l could stop doing things for folks,
they might stop doing things for me.
DO you really mean that?"
Yes, indeed" said Phil, eagerly.
MAY l try it, mammal"
IF you like. You may try it for
one day"
Remember, then, mamma, nobody
To oil IL CT ole
I'll remember my part. Rurrah!
| Phil dropped the rake over the small
! pile of leaves and rushed away to look
at his fishing line, for he had made up
his mind to go fishing in the afternoon
and have pleasant time.
Running hastily to the barn, he fell
and tore a hole in his trousers.
Mamma" he cried, picking himself
| up and going toward the house. But
he suddenly remembered that mann a
was not to be called upon. He ran up
stairs to change his torn garments.
"Ah, Two buttons off of my other
pants, and l forgot to tell about 1t.
Never mind! | can sew them on my
self. l often have. It's easy enough
| to sew on buttons"
1t took him a long time to thread
the needle, and then every stitch was
| a separate trial. But, as he sprang to
put on his trousers, he found that they
| were sewed TO the skirt Of the coat he
| had on. The schoolbell was ringing,
| ana he rushed away with the torn
| trousers on.
M no W n
| he had begun school with resolution
not to have one tardy mark during the
year.
The tear in the trousers kept catch
| ing in things, and tearing larger, until
he was very much ashamed of it, and
! was glad at length to hurry home. As
| he again sewed on the buttons he could
not help wondering if mending ones
| clothes were not a little harder than
cutting kindlings.
Never mind" he said to himself.
| Nobody will ask me to do anything
| after dinner, and I can do just what
please all day when l get out OF
| school"
The task finished, he went to the
dinner table with a boys appetite.
Where is my places" he asked, see
Ing no place ready for him.
Have you forgotten our agre,-
ment?" asked his mother.
why, no. mamma. l said nobody
| need do anything for me. am going
to wash my own dishes when I'm
| done"
But do you expect any one to cook
| for your
Phil stared at her for a moment,
then gave a rather blank look at the
roast beef and sweet potatoes.
Il did forget, that's fact" ne said,
with a laugh, as he turned and went
| out.
But there was little spirit in the
laugh, and mamma looked after him
with a sober face.
~ can't see him miss dinner" she
said But his father said: Let him
learn his lesson well. 1t will not hurt
| him"
Phil went out to the orchard and ate
apples, not troubling himself to think
whether any one had raised them for
him and rejoicing in the reflection
that when picking time came he would