The Virginia enterprise., 1901-12-20
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HOW. JIMMIE KEPT.
HIS RESOLUTIONS

ANs0 N6O1lVIN1
Z $s 49,. -., :. X.
On tbs first day OF January Jimmie
Wilson's mother said: well, my son,
what are your New Years resolutions
this year?" .-.s,..l:
IT. was evening. and Jimmis wa.
working on : problem in interest at
the time, for, say as much a. they;
might about his not being neat in his
dress or his unpleasant habit OF nod,
ding his head when he meant "yes,"
and shaking it when he meant no.:
no one could say that he was not the
leading pupil in arithmetic in Lees
town academy. Another thing that
everybody had to admit was that Jim
mie was in love with his mother, but
tonight he scowled and worked on.
He heard Eva's subdued laugh, and
without raising HIS eyes he saw. Tom
kick Ned. 'I. 49,. ...,..
He did not. see his mothers face.
but he knew without looking that.
panied surprise was written there. for
he had never been the boy to treat his
mother with disrespect. He 1nighttrip
Tom or strike Ned. he might even,
taase Elsie or grumble when his IA
thsr asked him to leave his problems
TO post a letter for him or to NOW the
grass on the lawn, but his mother sl-
ways found him ready to 60 ON an
errand or do the chores.
By and by the figures began to act
queerly. He found himself saying
mine times eight equals ifty-six," and
once he discovered that he had multi
Piled the interest BY the principal to
get the rate. Determined not to give
up. he tried to> get his mind back to
his work by adding set Of figures.
three columns at time, but he failed,
and dropped to two columns; it was
still too much for him, and when he
had gone to one column and had said
''dve and eight are-Iwo talk to her
before the others--eight and five are
they'd laugh II I did-;zAre tsxelve: no,
,ars-like as not Ned would ask me the
time; pshaw! Five: and eight-or else
Ton would tell me to catch cold and
get erick in my neck" he gave up
and slammed book and tablet upon
the tAbls with such . bang thst1his
mother dropped her work and Eva
gave . frightened little screeeh, that
set the other boys into : rosr Of laugh
ter. ,..- -: -. ~ ~ .;lt*2. = ~ = Z
Taking advantage Of The confusion.
Jimmie whispered 10 his mother:
"CQme up to my room" and made his
escape. He waited in the han until
his mother came out, aud then he took
her arm and together they went in
silence up to his room. Pushing her
into his own cushioned rocker, he vent
te'sA table and took from one OF the
dyawers . little red book. j Then he
came and rat on the arm OF her chair.
Still he had not spoken, but his moth
sfswas accustomed 20, his silent ways.
Some people thought it queer that he
should be 80 quiet, but when they
men toned 1t to his mother, she only
smiled and ealledit '".Jimmie's sway.'',.*ssI
Opening ghis book well toward the
back. he said: ..'You know 1 keep, my
school records. in here and my monthly
aseounts:5and anything else that Iwant
10 have convenient to refer;to. I've had
It. two years. IS s Il sl 1 :
He paused . moment. but his s;mother
knew that he swas warming 20 his sub-
jeet, and sat such . time BE was sure 10
Ind ths words that be; needed. zS
Back hers j have written my New
Tears resolutions and you know how
1hAve broken every one Of: them. Jan.
ruary |, 1897 - here s. resolve "a Quit
snoddiny ny head. and 80. soy ..yes. IL
stead. II llsttek Is e. mot her. NJ etvs
me i new wafeh.. happened e. 5s:s:
. His mother y1aughed, but he repeated
slmost Aeree1y hat happened Z. 81 II
q I ~ Why. On the second day of January
5I.took iyon "a The. jjeweler''s ana showed
yop the kind 81 watch i would get yonaI
SO you kept your resolnt tion. and tier,
5I Asked !: :Ixnt worth the effort 7..S'''zs AZ
55Ss " Ard hke drnee.SI nodded my
sheadI~ 81
SO yoa tid. md you have tried ever
ssinee 10 earn tAat watch, but it -
proved Too hard hattie. Neserthe.
: .5s;
Wan. lste'ss sJanuarrIl, loo4 toaae
- q rssslys Q Ands aA1dins
1.sll ~ net -