The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1905-12-30

INV . 's: most ~; E. z;
gramme for the
new year soon to be entered upon. He
always made 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,
anu some sharp twinges Of conscience
| ttat found relief in self reproaches
more or less bitter, had gradually set
| tied back into the old habits and the
former, easy-going, aimlsss drifting
with the current.
Yes" he remarked to his sister,
who had been Gliding him for his late
hours and corresponding late rising,
which made him go slipping shame
facedly 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 fellow going
to do, when there's so much going on?
The rest OF the fellows are on the go
all the time, and why shouldn't l?
NY, 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, guiltily. THE
boss locked sour enough to curdle all
the milk IN dairy.
But I'm going to dig in next year,
and earn well-done. good and faith
full servant, as we'll as a 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. Gopd-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 te patient and wait.
Those were strenuous days for
Ralph-those last days of the old year
and when New Years morning came
1t found him taking an extra snooze,
an indulgence which seemed quite rea-
10 In, x,ta <Sf he 70 haA 10
holiday for him, and that he had not
retired until long after midnight. hav-
ing attended New Years Eve party
as a 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 comfortable
to plan there.
III just map out the programme in
my mind and then get up in time to
write II down before dinner" he NUT
tered to himself when sister Kate
called him for breakfast, and he half
dreamily recalled that 1t 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 Goor
Of his room, which was ajar, but notic-
ing that he was busy writing at his
desk, she did not disturb him. She
half guessed what was engaging him
so 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 in 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.
1t will be the first thing my eyes will
see In the morning, and will find It
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 1T"
well" she replied. hesitatingly, as
she ran her eye over the dozen or
more resolutions that filled the card,
you have certainly planned a rigor-
Gus programme, but
"Oh. fudge. Sis. there's no but about
It. Don't discourage a 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 lapses that
he found It easy to excuse himself for,
but the first real break with his reso-
lutions came toward the close Of the
third week. He had grown less and
less prompt about responding to the
rising call Of hfr alarm cInrk ana ov,a