If his mother asked him to do anything, he always replied, "I will in a minute." He said this so often that I wonder he was not called "in a minute" by everybody. It would have been a very appropriate name.
Howard had the charge of the hens, at least that was the way they put it, but I think that Mrs. Grinnell was the one upon whom the burden rested. Every morning after breakfast she found it necessary to ask,
"Howard, have you fed the hens?"
"Not yet, but I am going to."
"Well, go right away, or you will forget it."
"No, I will not forget, I am going in a minute; I just want to look at the weather report."
Half an hour later Howard appears from the direction of the east meadow with his hands full of meadow lilies which he presents to his mother, saying:
"The very first! Put them in the antique vase, please. And set it under the mantle, will you, mamma?"
"Thank you, dear, they are beautiful! I will arrange them at once." Then as she turned away, "The hens?"
"O, I forgot! I'll go now."