People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — DORA’S RESOLUTIONS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DORA’S RESOLUTIONS.

ISH YOU A HAPPY New Year!” called Dora, from her pillow, to her sister Agnes, who stood before the dress-ing-table, brushing her curls. “What makes you get up so early? It isn’t breakfast time yet.

It is so warm and cozy here in bed, I’m going to lie here and think up lots of good resolutions for Jhe new year. Then I can write them out after breakfast. Why don’t you make some resolutions, Agnes?” “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about in," replied the little girl. “I have been hurrying to get dressed, for I was afraid mamma would want me; Freddie has been crying all the morning.” “Fred is such a cry-baby!” returned Dora. “Well, perhaps I’d better get up, seeing you are all ready to go down. Tell mamma I am coming right away,” and she crawled out of bed as Agues closed the door; . —J Dora reached the dining-room just !

as her mamma and sister set the breakfast on the tible. Freddie had been restored to good humor, and everybody seemed happy as they gathered aretand ..he first morning meal of the new year. Bright faces, merry voices and good wishes made it a charming family group. Dora and Agnes cleared, the table when the meal was finished, for there was no servant in the house, aDd the two sisters helped much with the work, that mamma might get more time to sew. ‘‘Shall I wash or wipe the dishes?” asked Dora. “Oh, I’ll wash them, and you can wipe them,” said Agnes, “for you’d rather, and I don’t care.” “Well, then I’m going up-stairs to write out my New Year’s resolutions; I’ll be down by the time you have the dishes ready to rinse,” and Dora ran up to her room. Dora spoiled several sheets of paper before she had her resolutions written to suit her. Finally, she read them over with a certain degree of pride:

New Year’s Resolutions of Dora Buckingham Prescott.

making a fuss about it: “I will dress Freddie every morning. “I will take my turn at washing the ' dishes, even though I like better to wipe them. “I will dust the parlor every and i not leave it for Agnes. | “I will not forget to make the beds ! when it comes my week. “I will take care of my bird every morning. “I will amuse Freddie, and not be cross to him once this year. “I will sew on my buttons without 1 being told. i “I will not let Agnes do my share of the work, just because she is obliging. l ‘l will always be pleasant to everybody ” s . “Dora, mamma wants you ” “Oh, don’t come bothering me now, Aggie!” “Mamma wants you to see to Freddie.” “Oh, dear! Why can’t you?” “I’ve got to go down to the postoffice.” “Oh! Why, have you finished the dishes?” “All done,” said Agnes, with a little smile that had not a mite of superiority in it. “But I meant to come and wipe them,” said Dora, with a flush. “Never mind,” said Agnes, “I knew you were busy.” Dora followed her sister down-stars, thinking she would put the rooms in order and feed the canary before Agnes returned. But to her surprise, the parlor and sitting-room were dusted. Diok was eating fresh seed,with great relish, and it was 10 o’clock. How long a time she had spent oVer those resolutions! After making Baby Fred happy with a big block house, Dora slipped upBtairs and brought down her paper of “New Year’s Resolutions” and quietly laid it on the parlor fire. “I’ll keep my eyes and ears open, as Aggie does, and do everything I see that needs to be done, and try to be as pleasant as she is. That will be better than writing out a thousand reso- —' -- ' ' - ' .-t- ■-A 'ii rations!" •'' " • f\ I ' '. '

“I will get up early in the morning and help mamma with the breakfast. “I will go to bed at night without