The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-02-10
I'm Just as sure as Can be.

Whenever any one doubted the extent
or accuracy of Harry's Information, he
always said. "a IN just as sure as can be-"
This habit of being so positiUe often led
him into difficulty. 4s5s5s .. .g,3S
Gao Saturday eafternoon he sat at his
fathers writing desk preparing eompo-
sitien. His teacher WAS very particular
about dates, and reproved his pupils se-
verely when they made a mistake, saying
that it was carelessness that he could
not overlook. ~
"It's the twenty 9Th, mamma; isn'tit?.
asked Harry. l sd 80 s's a5f
Il think not, dear There is an alma
nae III the desk and you had better look. "
."Oh, no. mamma, am quiet certain
am right; and, indeed, now / think of it,
l am jnst as sure as can be; for don't you
know we went to the missionary lecture
! day before yesterday, and that was the
twenty -third?n sa .
Harry handed in his Composition on
Wednesday,, and on Thursday he was sar-
prised to hear his teacher call him sternly
to his desk. sa !.
.Harry, have l not expressly forbidden
my scholars to write upon tue Sabbath"
eyes, sir.'"'n gsailf.l d flsf fss .4,a
."On what day did you prepare your
last composition?" n ,ags ; ef {,
"On Saturday, SIR" i ef
It was dated the twenty-6fth, which
was the Sabbath" IS Sc. ,s
"Indeed! indeed!n exclaimed Harry;
81 did write on Saturday; and mamma told
me then she thought 1 wasa't right"
Il believe you, Harry; and / caution
you against such mistakes in future
Take your composition, write new one,
date it correctly and hand it to me to-
morrow mosning.n
When Harry returned home, he found
that his parents were spending the after
noon with friend at no great distance,
and had left permission for himself and
sister to follow them in the evening
"How provoking!" exclaimed Harry,
| "that I've got that old composition to
write. I wish I'd looked when mamma
told me. I don't care; I'm going in good
season for oil that g lss
"You'd better write 6rst" said the
sister. s.s asa asIa M
"No, shan't. shall leave it until
/, I get home" - 5.atits4s O.
"Bat you may not have time
"Oh! yes, ] shall; Pm just as sure as
can ben And, while his sister sat down
quietly to her lessons, he set OF to visit
his young friends
! Thoughts of neglected duty made him
uneasy at first, but he soon forgot it, and
replied to his sister, who urged his early
return, "Oh, shall get it done; I'm just
as sure as can be-" @ ~
: But he played SO heartily that he was
funable to keephis eyes opea after he reach-
ed home, The next morning he slept
unusually late, and when he appeared at
school without composition, his only ex-
cuse was, II thought should have time,
Mr.. Thirlwall; l was just as sure as could
be" So he was not only disgraced at
school, but also lost the pleasure of ride
which his father had promised him.
| Harry suffered q great many disap--
pointments, from his confidence in his own,
opinions, After each, he regularly deter
mined never to be SO certain again, and
as regularly forgot his resolution an hanr
after 80 IN
| But he was most severely pHnished
His uncle Williams. who resided IN the
next town, had o garden filled with deli
cious fruit. Every autumn, when it xas
fully ripe, he was accustomed to invite q
large party Of friends, with .heir children
to partakc of it. Te this. Harry always