had to tell anyone to go out and get wood for the fireplace, for Jim work ed hard bringing it in, puffing im portantly as he trudged in from the snowy outdoors with his arms loaded. Nell, who had always been saucy with other members of the family, and seemed to like to quarrel, now could not be drawn into a fight. One day when the weather was especially bad, and everyone had to stay indoors, Tim teased her unmercifully in a way that before would have sent her flying after him. Nell only bit her lip, smiled, and turned and left the room. Mother looked knowingly at Peggy, who was watching her sister in open-mouthed surprise. Tim's particular trouble had al ways been with his schoolwork, for he hated to study. But now every evening he opened his books and pored over them with a new diligence. Little Georgie made no secret of his “wesolution.” “ Ise donna be a dood boy evy day and hep Muwer,” he boasted, trotting about after his mother, getting sadly in the way in his eagerness to help. But no one could guess Peggy’s resolution, although she was much different from the old Peggy of last year. She got up smiling every morn ing after being called only once, and flew about getting herself and her brothers and sister ready for the day, helping with the breakfast, and taking extra care of baby Georgie. She never had to be told to make up her bed in the morning, and more than once Nell caught her helping the boys mal^e up their beds. One day her mother shook her head in bewilderment as Peggy with out being told, began to mend one of her brother’s socks. (Continued on Page 18)
Peggy's Secret Resolution By Rachael Borne
F ROM somewhere outside the mis sion compound came the sound of a wolf howling. The wind whistled around the corner of the frame house, and a sharp spat of snow whisked down the chimney. Peggy shivered and hunched closer to the fire, thinking about her father somewhere out in one of the native villages. Her brothers and sister sat staring at the big clock across the room, and Mother was nodding drows ily in her chair. Twelve tinkling chimes rang slowly through the room. Mother stirred, and looked around at the children. “All right, my dears,” she said briskly, “ New Year’s Day is here.” “ Tell us what you want us to do this year,” said Peggy, moving over and resting her head on her mother’s lap. “ I’ve been thinking about it,” said Mother, “ and I think this year I want each one of you to make a solemn resolution about just one thing.” “Just one thing?” Peggy’s brother Jim asked. “ Just one thing,” Mother repeated. “ But I don’t want you to tell me what it is; and for every one of you that follows it so well for a month that I can guess your resolution, I will have a nice surprise.” Peggy sat up straight and clapped her hands. Jim and Nell and Tim and even little Georgie looked interested. J A N U A R Y , 1 9 5 1
“When must we make our res’lu- tion?” asked Tim eagerly. “ Right now—before the clock gets to ten minutes past twelve. We will be very quiet for a few minutes, and each one will make a resolution; and then we will all go to bed.” When the time was up, Mother asked, “ Have you all made your New Year’s resolution?” Five dark heads nodded, and five pairs of solemn eyes looked up at her. In the days that followed, Peggy could soon tell what each of the other children had resolved. Mother never
By Martha S. Hooker
Page Seventeen
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