The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1902-07-15
HOW JIMMIE KEPT
HIS RESOLUTIONS

On the first day of January Jimmie
Wilson's mother said: well, my son,
what are your New Years resolutions
this year?'
1t was evening, and Jimmie was
working on a problem in interest at
the time, for, say as much as 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 il when be meant mo"
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
mic 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.
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 disrezpect. He might trip
Tom or strike Ned. he might even
tease Elsie or grumble when his ia
Their asked him to leave his problems
TO post letter for him or to NOW the
grass on the lawn. but his mother al
ways found him ready to go on an
errand or do the chores.
By and by the figures began to act
queerly. He found himself saying
mine times eight equals ffty-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 a 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
''five and eight are-I won't talk to her
before the others-eight and five are
they'd laugh if I did-are twelve; no.
are-like as not Ned would ask me the
time; pshaw! Five and eight-or else
Tom would tell me to catch cold and
get crick in my neck" he gave up
and slammed book and tablet upon
the table with such bang that his
mother dropped her work and Eva
gave a frightened little screech that
set the other boys into a roar of laugh
ter.
Taking advantage of the confusion.
Jimmie whispered to his mother:
Come up to my ROOM" and made his
escape. He waited in the hall until
his mother came out, and then he took
her arm and together they went in
silence up to his room. Pushing her
into his own cushioned rocker. he went
to a table and took from one of the
| drawers a little red book. Then he
came and sat on the arm of her chair.
Still he had not spoken. but his moth
er was accustomed to his silent ways.
Some people thought it queer that he
should be so quiet, but when they
mentioned il to his mother. she only
smiled and called it "Jimmie's way"
Opening his book well toward the
back, he said: "You know l keep my
school records in here and my monthly
accounts and anything else that want
to have convenient to refer to. I've had
it two years"
He paused moment, but his mother
knew that he was warming to his sub
ject, and at such a time he was sure to
find the words that he needed.
Back here have written my New
Years resolutions, and you know how
I have broken every one of them. jan
uary 1, 1871 hereby resolve to quit
nodding my head and to say Eyes" in
stead. If l stick to it, mother will give
me new watch What happened?"
His mother laughed. but he repeated
almost fercely; what happened?"
"Why. on the second day of January
took you to the jewelers. and showed
you the kind of watch would get you
if you kept your resolution. and then
/ asked: Isn't it worth the effort?'"
And like Ounce, l nodded my
headl"
$50 you did, and you have tried ever
since TO earn that watch, but it has
proved too hard a battle. Neverthe-
less l will say: Try again."
"WeA. here's January 1. 1898. Once
more l firmly resolve to quit nodding
my head; moreover. / resolve not to
give so much attention TO arithmetic