Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-01-25
Johnny's First Bible,

Johnny's First Bible.
johnny did not care much for tovshons
and candy stalls; but bookshops and book
stalls he could never pass without wishing
to buy something His library consisted
OF all manner of little story books; but he
had no Bible he could call his own and
as he had exchanged frock and petticoats
for dress more beftting a boy, and felt
himself man every inch of him, he must
have a Bible
In Scotland, both old and young appear
IN the sanctuary with a Bible They wo d
no more think of going to place of wor-
ship without their Bible than without their
coat and hat. All his brothers had Bibles
to take to church and Sabbath school, and
why not he? i Bible he must hare: but
holc he knew not 1t was no use, he thot,
to ask his mother for one; he was almost
too young. His brothers were older than
he was before they got theirs In this di-
lemma, the thought flashed on his mind
''Do not % near bookstall, or window
of a bookshop, to be tempted to give your
pennies for little story books, but Law them
up till you have enough to buy Bible"
No sooner was this plan thought of, than
it was acted upon. Often were the pen
nies counted, and long did the time an
pear to be, yet he kept his purpose; aud
when the pennies amounted to twelve, he
GOT them exchanged for shilling in sill
YER. The shillings slowly multi piled one.
two, three, and four Only one more, and
a pocket Bible would be his At last he
had the twelve pennies and taking his
four shillings from their hiding place, and
his twelve pennies, off he started to the
booksellers, determined to surprise and
please his mother, when he should return
and show her his pretty new pocket Bible
Gleesomely did he bound into the shop,
saying:
''Sir, want to buy a Bible"
"A Bible! What, can you read in the
Bible so soon p
Yes sir
Well, what kind of a Bible do vcu
wish p
~ pocket Bible sir"
The bookseller then took down a very
common one, and said,
"Such as that, | suppose"
NO sir | want better
He took down a better, saying,
THAT, then, wiz be the thing, won't it p
NO sir.
"It is low priced" said he, 'only halfa
crown
Il don't like it want better What
is the price of those bound il. rel?"
"Five shil'ings"
"Wsn," said Johnney, give me one of
them
And down went his five shiIlings on the
counter
But the bookseller gave him piercing
look, and said,
Tou able to buy FIVE shilling Bible
Where did you get that money! Did your
mother give it to You? Does she know
that YOU have come to buy five shilling
Bible? Are you sure you got that FIVE
shillinrs in 4 right way ?
This was too much for Johnnv's hon
est heart Pride, grief and Indignation
so swelled his little bosom, that to give ut
tarance to a single word was impossible.
He burst into flood of tears, all the time
making his strongest efforts to speak, but
could not The bookseller put his five
shillings in his drawer, and the Bible hack
on the shelf, and said to .Johnney,
Il see how it is Go home and tell your
mother to come and sec me"
Johnny saw and felt that the booksel-
ler considered him thief aud thought he
had stolen the five shiIlings He ran home
threw himself into his mothers arms,
and there lay ~obbing, but unable to utter
a single word that was ineligible. His
mother felt alarmed, and begged him tc
/ tell her what had hart him, and began to
unloose his clothes TO find out where he
was hurt He tried to prevent her doing
so. She had become almost frantic, and
in an agony of mind, said,
What IS it, then? Do try and tell me
nv dear little Johnny
+ At last she understood the words book
r-Bible-money-
/ What said she, "have you been tC
the bookseller TO buy a Bible, and ht
thought YOU were thief, and had stolen
tae money ?"
''Yes-yes-yes, he sobbed out.
/ She then scothed and comforted him
till his feelings having become more tran
ouil, he told her the whole story, when of
she started TO see the bookseller.
The bookseller saw she had been cry
inc. and was still somewhat excited. He
tod her what he had done, and why h
did it She thanked him for his well
meant kindness to her child and to her
but tod him how much he had mistaken
the character of her son, and that TIN:
rash act lad well nigh broken his little
heart, stating to him the effects it bad pro
duccd on his mini and feelings by his
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