AID TO MEMORY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue II, 13 July 1895, Page 55

AID TO MEMORY.

‘Tod’ Walters is a ten-year-old boy in whom the spirit of mischief and the spirit of investigation are developed to an unusual degree ; at least, his suffering grandparents entertain that opinion. Tod made them a short visit a few months ago, and although they are fond and proud of their grandson, it cannot be denied that their principal feeling when they said good-bye to him was one of relief. Neither of the old people had very sharp eyesight, and they seldom used their spectacles except for reading, so it was not surprising they failed to discover some peculiar indentations which marked the top rail of the polished balusters on the first morning after Tod’s arrival, and which grew deeper with each succeeding morning. To all appearance Tod did not notice them either, until the last day of his visit. Then he announced in confidence to his grandmother: * I’m afraid, grandma, that I’ve made some marks on the baluster-rails with my Waterbury, but you see I’ve always run down so fast that I never noticed them till this morning !’

• With your Waterbury, Tod '.’ echoed his grandmother in amazement.

* Why, yes. I’ve wound it by pressing the winder on the rail, you know, every morning since 1 came. It was such a splendid place, and saved such a lot of time, because I could do it as I ran down to breakfast. And always doing it that way kept me from forgetting to wind it, you see •’