A Poor Memory.


A LITTLE girl, on coming from church,

was asked by her father to tell the text. "I

can't," she said, "I have such a poor memory."

But a minute or two after she was

telling her mother about the dresses and

bonnets of all her little playmates. "I don't

see," said her father, "but your memory is a

wonderfully good one." 

Charlie was troubled in the same way.

"How I wish I had a better memory!"

complained Charlie, when he was reminded

of the errand he forgot to do for his mother

when he was coming home from school.

"Yet you can remember some things very

well, can't you?" said mother.

"Well, mother, I don't feel sure about

anything, unless I write it down, or tie a

string on my finger, or do some such thing

to make me remember."

"Which finger did you tie a string around,

to remember the pair of skates I told you

you might stop at the store and get?"

"Not much danger of my forgetting

that," said Charlie, with a smile.

"I suppose you have it written down

somewhere, that I gave you permission to

go to the skating-pond to-morrow afternoon?"

"Now, mother, I know you are jesting.

You know I could not forget what I have

been thinking about with so much interest

all the week."

"Then you can remember some things, it

seems. Those that you take an interest in,

and those that you think over and about.

Now, here you may find the secret of improving

your memory. First, pin your attention

down to what you wish to remember.

Repeat it over and over again to yourself,

and often recall it as you go about your

other duties. Learn to take an interest in

every duty, and it will come easy to remember

them. You can cultivate the memory

as well as any other power of your mind;

but it must be done by hard work, by holding

the mind with bit and bridle."

 


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THROUGH grace I can conquer every sin,