Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-12-27

/SAP emplary pro,
new year soon to be entered upon. He
always made a fair start. and with he
roic fidelity carried out for time the
course of conduct marked out. but
somehow or other the newness of the
new year had scarcely worn itself
away ere he had grown weary in well
doing. like many another. and after
few spasmodic efforts against failure.
and some sharp twinges Of conscience
that found relief in self reproaches
more or less bitter. had gradually set
tied back into the old habits and the
former. easy going, aimless drifting
with the current.
Yes he remarked to his sister.
who mad been chidng him for his late
hours and corresponding late rising.
which made him so slipping shame
facediy into the Office after all the rest
were busy at their desks, Yes, I'm
going to turn over new leaf with the
New Year | know I'm running around
too much, but what's a fellow going
to do. when there's so much going on?
The rest or the fellows are on the go
My, but I'm sleepy" he added. as he
tried to repress the rising OF persist
ent yawn. ''Dozed off over my books
to-day" he laughed. guilty. The
boss looked sour enough to curdle all
the milk in dairy.
But I'm going to dig in next year,
and earn a well-done, good and faith
full servant, as we'll as promotion.
What do you say. sis?'
And with an air OF self-approval he
waited for her response.
Better begin now she replied half
beseechingly.
"Oh, the first OF the New Year is
the best beginning time 1t sort Of
fits in better.
"Oh, pshaw," he calculated. with
good natured Impotence, as he drew
on his coat and reached for his hat.
undue haste is unseemly. Good-by."
The slam of the door and the merry
whistle that beat time for the quick
stroke of the receding footsteps came
as the emphatic echo of the good by
and made sister Kate realize that she
must be patient and wait.
Those were strenuous days for
Ralph-those last days OF the old year
and when New Years morning came
II found him taking an extra snooze.
an indulgence which seemed quite rea-
sonable in view of the fact that IL was
a holiday for him, and that lie had not
retired until long after midnight. hav-
ing attended a New Years Eve party
as final wind-up before turning over
the promised new leaf. And then. too.
he felt more in the mood to think over
his good resolutions while lying in
bed 1t was so easy and comforta BILE
to plan there.
I'll just map out the programme in
my mind and then get up in time to
write it down before dinner" he NUT
tered to himself when sister Kate
called him for breakfast. and he half
dreamily recalled that it was the first
day of the New Year on which he was
to start his many reforms.
Once during the morning. after he
had risen, his sister passed the door
OF his room, which was ajar but motto
ing that he was busy writing at his
desk, she did not disturb him She
half guessed what was engaging him
80 closely. but was hardly prepared for
the elaborate set OF rules OF conduct
which he presented for her approval
| when she went to call him TO dinner.
There" he exclaimed. with boyish
enthusiasm. as he placed i'm her hands
! the resolutions which he had carefully
inscribed in his bold, free hand upon
large piece Of cardboard. I'm going
! TO hang that up at the foot of my bed.
II will be the first thing my eyes will
see in the morning. and I will find IL
| handy to run over the resolutions
| while | am dressing. The reason good
| resolutions are broken is that they
are forgotten, at least that is the case
with me. What do you think Of it,"
Well" she replied. hesitatingly. as
/ she ran her eye over the dozen or
more resolutions that filed the card
you have certainly planned rigor-
Gus programme. but"
oh. fudge. Sis. there's no but about
/ II. Don't discourage fellow at the
very start"
Kate checked the bit OF admonition
which was on her tongues end. for
she saw IT was useless to speak now
and, the dinner bell sounding at that
minute, they both descended TO the
| dining-rOom.
The days that followed found Ralph
holding faithfully to his schedule
There were frequent little Iapscs that
he found it easy TO excuse himself for.
bd the first real break with his reso-
lutions came toward the close of the
third week. lie mad grown less and
less prompt about responding to the
rising call OF his alarm clock, and one