of, how can I learn to take care of them?"

Mrs. Bertram had to turn away so that Roger should not see her
smile.

"I shall have to think of some other way to teach you to be
careful. Now go and bring me all your toys."

Roger went out of the room to do as his mother said. When he had
gone, Mrs. Bertram sat thinking until he came back.

"I have decided that I want you to dust the library every
morning."

Roger looked astonished. "Boys don't dust," he said.

"Sometimes," said his mother, smilingly. "Your Uncle Fred had to
dust his own room when he was at West Point. Now if you dust the
library every morning for two months faithfully, and do not break
a single ornament, I shall know you have grown careful in one
way, and that may help you to be careful in another."

The next morning Roger began his work. At first he disliked it
very much, but after a while he grew very particular. It was not
pleasant to be without any toys, and he determined to earn them.

The day when his trial of two months would be up, would be
Christmas Day. He did not know if his presents this year would be
toys or useful things. All his mother had said about his work
was, "My dear, you are improving."