Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-12-29
How Jimmie Kept
His Resolutions
From the Chtcago Record.

From the Chicago Record.
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 meaEt yes"
and shaking it when he meant no"
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
my 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 disreNpect. He might trip Tom,
or strike Ned, he might even tease Elsie
or grumble when his father asked him
to leave his problems to post Il letter
for him or to NOW the grass on the
lawn, but his mother always found nm
ready to go on an errand or do the
chores.
BY and by the figures began to act
queerly. He found himself saying nine
times eight equals fifty-siX,' and nee
he discovered that he had multiplied 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 add
ing a set of figures, three columns at
a time, but he failed, and dropped to
two columns; 1t was still too much for
him, and when he had gone TO one coll
umn and had said "fve and eight are
I won't talk to her before the others
eight and five are-theyid laugh IL 1 did
ARE twelve; no, are-like as no Ned
would ask me the time: pshaw! Five
and eight-or else Tom would tell me to
catch cold and get a crick in my
neck" he gave UP and slammed book
and tablet upon the table with such a
bang hat his mother dropped her work
and Eva gave a frightened little screech
that set the other boys into a roar Of
laughter.
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 to-
gether they went in silence up to his
room. Pushing her into his own cush-
toned 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 the chair. Still he had not
spoken, but his mother was accustomed
to his silent ways Some people thought
1t queer hat he should be so quiet, bur
when they mentioned 1t to his mother,
she only smiled and called IL "Jiinmie's
way"
Opening his book we'll toward the
back, he said: You know I keep my
school records in here and my monthly
accounts and anything else that 1 want
to have convenient to refer to. I've
had 1t two years"
He paused a moment. but his mother
knew that he was warming to his SUBJ
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
/ have broken every one OF them. jan
larry 1, 1877 hereby resolve to quit
nodding my head and TO say yes in
stead. II I stick to it, mother Will
give me a new watch What hap
penedP"
His mother laughed, but he repeated
almost fiercely. What ~happened?'
why on the second day OF January
/ took you to the jewelers. and showed
you the kind of watch / would get you
III you kept your resolution, and then
i asked. Isn't 1t worth the effort p"
And ! like a Ounce, 1 nodded my
head"
And so you did, and you have tried
ever since to earn that watch, but it
has proved too hare a battle. Never
theless l will say: Try again."
well. here's january 1, 1898. Once
more / firmly resolve to quit nodding
my, head; moreover, l resolve not TO
give SO much attention TO arithmetic
that l neglected my grammar What
happened? Why I nodded my head
worse than ver and my years average
In grammar was one less than ii was
the year before,
lStill, / believe that you made a de-
termined effort. and you helped me to
see how strongly your mind was turned
toward mathematics. / think we have
both been happier since.' said his
mother. From his elevated position on
her chair arm Jimmie patted his
mothers head ~approyingly.
Nov II comes to this year. and 1
know just what you want me to re-
solve to do. You want me first to say
this: I am determined that the third
time Is h charm. and that not once
during the entire year win / nod my
head for YES or shake It for mo-. Don't
4 should IKE ~ ne answered With