Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-02-06
Jacks New Leaf
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" ciates about turning over ne"
leaf or swearing Off" on New year
Day. He was inclined to be proud Oh
his cynicism. for he had never known
of a single pledge having peen Aep'
longer than fortnight.
Hardy never let his conscience "o'-
ry him about New Year RESOLUTIONS.
His conscience had first-class excuse
but he simply wouldn't listen to II.
Mrs. Hardy~had given him a s"ea.
off" talk regularly the last week OIL
each of the six years they haa Deen
married, so he was not surprised Wnen,
on the evening Of Dec. 81. she asked
him to come into the library for re"
minutes after dinner, as she had SOME
thing of Importance to say to him.
Jack" began Mrs. Hardy, you'll be
33 next month, and"
Hardy knew the formula, and inter-
rupted.
"We'n get at it straight this time,"
said Mrs. Hardy, as she procured pen
Gil and paper and requested him TO
answer all questions as asked. When
she had finished examining him as TO
his weekly program OF life. she sala:
''Now, let me read you what nave
Monday night-theater. usually.
Tuesday night-club.
Wednesday night-club.
Thursday night-secret society.
FRIDAY night-club.
Saturday night-another secret So
ciety.
"Sunday-miscellane dates. Oc-
casionally at home"
Hardy had to laugh at the way ne
was being handled.
"Now," said Mrs. Hardy, triumph
antly, where do 1 come in? How
many evenings do you spend with me!
Only one, and that at the theater. Now
let's see how much time you actually
spend at home"
She figured rapidly for few Sec
onds, and then announced:
Barely one-third of your time, Sun
days included, is spent at home. In
other words, you dine here, sleep here
a few hours in the early morning, and
pass few minutes here at breakfast
don't think it's being bit nice to me.
Jack, to say nothing Of the injury 1t
Is doing your health. Now, then, here
is a program which / wish to substi-
tute for your present one:
Monday night-theater.
Tuesday night-club.
"wednesday night-home.
Thursday night-secret society.
''Friday night-home, possibly thea
ter.
Saturday night-home.
"Sunday-home and church.
Retire each night not later than II.
"Be at office each morning not later
than 9:3O."
Hardy did not surrender without a
struggle, but Mrs. Hardy was deter
mined, so at last he pledged himself to
live up to her program for one month,
beginning Jan. 1.
Hardy's business required his guild
ing presence each morning as early as
o'clock, but he was rarely in his
office at that hour. His clerks were
accustomed to Seeing him rush in
about 10, frequently later, and throw
the office into an uproar. and when
on the morning of>Jan. he arrived
promptly at 8, and in quiet and evil
IDENTIFY good spirits, his face showing
signs of having been permitted to go
to sleep for a proper length of time,
they exchanged anxious glances As
soon as Hardy went out his conduct
was freely discussed. One or two at
tributed the change to New Year, but
the majority were apprehensive Of
trouble.
Hardy continued to come to his
Office at 9 sharp, all the while his face
growing ruddier and his disposition sun
nier. In two weeks the new spirit had
entirely pervaded the Office. Business
went with vim that was contagious
1t was all the talk on Hardy's floor in
the big office building.
But Hardy was having hard time,
notwithstanding the fact that surface
indications were to the contrary. The
worse tug came at night. His even
ing at the club New Year week was,
In q way, memorable. At 1870 he
abruptly broke away from one Of the
most select circles that exclusive place
afforded, and announced that he would
have to be off.
AL 6uSdScluSut, WAS Ills 0XDlanA-
ton to the many queries. When he
was gone it was the subject Of conver-
sation. He had never been known to j
do anything like that since he had been
a member Of the club. He did not
"show up" again that week, and. the
following Monday a self-constituted
committee Of three jovial spirits called
at his Office to ascertain what was
wrong. The idea of New Year reso-
luton lodging in Hardy was never sus-
pected, SO his plea of being overwhelm-
ed with business was accepted; but It
was far from satisfactory, and he was
duly impressed with how difficult 1t
was for them to get along without him.
Hardy had to confess to himself that
there was "a difference all around" as
he expressed 1t. The passing remark
on the street, You're looking finep'
was getting common. He was not only
feeling and looking better, he was
doing better. His business had picked
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