New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-06


Mountjoy. Il shall give you chance, to try.
anyway" and she went into her own room.
Helena was not left long in doubt as to her
meaning for her mother soon returned with
big ball of Irvine
Helena" she said I'm going to try to cure
you of your dreadful habit of exaggerating You
made the remark that no one could undo five
thousand knots in ten years. and now I go
ing to find out whether spoke truly not.
But before they can be united. Of course they
have TO be tied first. you know. and 1 expect
you to do that. too"
Helena opened her eyes wide with astonish-
ment.
Tie five thousand knots she cried. And
then go to work and unite them again, Oh.
mother don't be 50 dreadfuIly crueI."
Mrs Nountjoy was firm. however. and begging
and tears only strengthened her decision
1t is of no use to tease" she said You
heard what l said and 1 shall expect YOU 70 be-
gin tomorrow afternoon after your lessons are
done: and remember. Helena. nothing is 20 inter-
fere with this work I set YOU And every time
hear YOU exaggerate l shall add another hun
bred to the number of knots"
School was out at 1 o'clock. and after study
ms, for a while Helena sat down TO her novel
punishment AT first it wasn't hard for she
knew how to Tie many fancy kinds OF knots Out
the novelty Wore OH. ana she "e'H 'Vt|
thankful when after an hours work. mother
said it would be enough for that afternoon.
After little practice she was able to do about
three hundred knots hour. and these were
carefully put away. waiting to be united This
hour had to be spent alone in her own room.
and no matter who came to see her OF Whdl
happened her task could not be neglected.
After about four weeks she had q drawer tulI Oh
Irvine with five thousand knots in it, and then
the really hard work began. for they all hdd 10
be united Some of them were as Stubborn IS
50 many mules. for she had neglected 10 tIs
them loosely and she would work until her
fingers ached- What thoughts fitted through
her brain no one Will ever know. bur Sc may -
pretty sure. as she watched her friends having d
good time out of doors. she made UP her nllhd %
guard her careless little tongue NOR e1retuLy-
II was three months before Helen Sd" the
last Of those knots with d hundred or i"o aadvu
for new offences and she worked hard anu
steadily at them. too Then it was Easter time
and the Mountjoy children were all asked To an
Easter party
But six hundred knots still remained. and
mother had said nothing could be done until the
daily task was ended. Helena made up her
mind she would finish those knots and so WIN
the rest 10 that party So for W. mornings She
crrpt softly out of bed at :; o'clock and set to
work with a will her fingers flying as iNrS
never went before.
BY O'Clock the very last knot was united
ant Helena danced down to the breakfast Win
q light heart.
1t seems to me somebody Is lo7h'rE very
happy this morning" said mother. as they went
into the dining room. Il wonder why
Because. cried Helena. throwing nor ANS
about her mothers neck. every one OBJ ii.S1
miserable knots is united, and now can 81 u
the party too. Why. what's this
There at her place was a little pdtAi-1 "'
dressed 10 Miss Helena Nountjoy- ana WIN
eager fingers she united one more knot. anu
what do YOU think in ii: \ ordu-'-u'
bracelet made entirely of gold knots, anu J-'''
the right size for HeIend's wrist.
This was Mrs Mountjoy's Easter surPT'7' '''
her daughter and a happier little sirI "'u'' Ne
hard find.
Helena kept that bracelet for many MANY
years and whenever she was tempted 10 eN''@
serate Il single look at those cold knots i"''e
her laugh at the recollection of her troubles 1'I'
remember to bride her thouShtless tongue
UNIT NE THDT GHT FOLLOWED fh-i' E-