Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-12-27

She year before"
"Still, I believe that you made de-
termined effort and you helped me to
see how strongly your mind was turned
toward mathematics. think we have
both been happier since," said his
mother. From his elevated position on
her chair arm Jimmie patted his moth
er's head approvingly.
Nov it comes to this year, and I
know just what you want me to re-
solve to do. You want me first to say
this: 4 am determined that the third
time is the charm, and that not once
during this entire year will 1 nod my
head for yes or shake it for no. Don't
your"
Il should like it," she answered with
smile. II should not like to have you
give up what once you have under
taken to do"
'Then you'd like me to add that I
Will be neat in my personal appear
ance. Now I want to ask you ques-
ton: Does being neat mean wearing
stiff collar and a white shirt and
keeping my shoes blacked?"
II should think so.''
swell, can't do it,
you can do it. You may not want
to very much"
Suppose I fail?'
TRY again."
suppose Tom tells me to take stiff
neck so l can't nod?"
Don't hear him."
Eyes. I will, and pound him, too"
"Well?''
why. of course, when you look at me
like that I'll try if I die in the at
tempt" and, taking a pencil from his
pocket, he recorded his two vows.
On the following day Jimmie went
down town and bought a ha!t-dozen
white shirts and as many collars.
Il don't want any haif-high collars.
either" he said to the clerk 81 want
regular chokers. Death cant come
any too soon to a fellow that has to
wear such things. Iwant good points
to them, too"
When he appeared al dinner, his hea d
held high and| his chin scraping the
points at every movement of his head,
the entire family looked the amaze
ment that it did not dare to speak.
Something in Jimmie's expression for
bade it.
With unfailing regularity, his an
swers fell: eyes, mother" No. father"
and it at times his head moved sus-
piciously, as if the nod or. the shake
were coming, he always caught him
self and the words came in time to
save him. Eva declared to her mother
an hour later that her head and neck
ached for Jimmie. ard on each sue
ceeding day through the week she
wished for Saturday.
Surely Jimmie would put on his old
cotton shirt for Saturday." she told
her mother in another outburst of suf-
fering. land if he does, I'll just hug
him. like our slouchy old Jimmie a
hundred times better than l do this
high-collared 'Yes-Eva ed boy we have
now"
But Saturday brought no change in
Jimmie's attire, and still no one dared
speak to him about it. Jimmie went
to his room earlier in the evening now
than he used tc do. and during the
summer he spent many an hour alone
in his room with his door locked. The
year wore on and finally the 31st of De.
cember, 1899, had come and was almo st
gone. A party of young people had
gathered at the house of the Wilson's
to watch the old year out, but just be.
fore the clock struck II Jimmie
touched his mothers arm, and togeth-
er they slipped off to his room.
Going to the table. drawer he took
out the little book, and, opening it
to the page on which he had written
his resolutions, he spread it on the
table and waited for the clock to strike.
When the last sound had died away
he took his pencil and wrote across the
page "Victory." Then he slowly re-
moved his high collar and threw in
into his mothers lap. Standing d.
rectly in front of her, he said:
Mother, ask me if 1 am glad that
1900 has arrived"
0AC SpCaCNu LAC 4uCStlO1l, anu y I'LL.
ME deliberately nodded his head three
times.
Nov, ask me if am going to make
any more New Years resolutions"
She asked this question. and he
shook his head three TIM IS. from rie /
to left. Then he broke into a hear: y
laugh.
II just wanted to see if knew how
to do IT, he said. II used to come of
up here and take off my collar and rest
my head and neck. but never once did
1 nod my head. Now, I think can
remember to say yes and no, but I've
bought box of new collars, and they
are not high ones, either"
He produced a box filled with the
comfortable turnover kind, and, Sc
Letting one, put it on. Then he said:
1--WE had better go downstairs. They
have missed us. But don't say word
about this"
Tell me one thing MORE" said his
mother as they started down. How
did you manage to remember not to
nod your head?" Jimmie laughed