Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1871-09-28
Tsttle Johns Kite Line,
BY AUGUSTA LARNED.

BY AUGUSTA LARSED.
Little John was a very pleasant boy
when things went just exactly right,
and he could have his own way, and
nobody leased or vexed him. He did
not like TO he interfered with and it
was his private opinion that his affairs
were OF a little more consequence than
those Of ordinary mortals, and that
what belonged to him ought to be very
rigldly respected. AS we say the con-
ditions being favorable, John was a
genial, lght-hcarted boy But, unfor-
tunatelv, the conditions were not always
favorable. Other people besides John
seemed to think that their affairs were
of some Importance, too, much to the
lads DISGUST; and | am afraid some
shallow observers, who visited Johns
mamma, got the impression that he
was a touchv, irritable, selfish boy.
John did not find it easy to get along
with his companions, and when any
disturbance arose, 1t always seemed to
him that they were wrong and he was
right. Very often, when knot of lads
from the neighborhood were playing
Touch the Goal" or Galley, little
John got offended, and ran into the
house and UP stairs where his mother
sat sewing. and told her with great in
dignation that the boys had abused
him, and he meant never to have any
ting more TO DO with them.
These Things made little John nam
ma unhappy; and she often tried to
show him that the trouble lay in him
self, but not with any great success.
He was like a certain Mrs. Gummldge
you will perhaps read about some day,
who thought every body was against
her.
Now, one pleasant afternoon in
spring, when tiocks OF white and purple
pigeons came whirring down through
the sunny air, and settled on the
stones of the quiet street where John
lived, and the bare tree branches seem
ed to be whispering love secrets to the
sky, the little lad, who found it conven-
lent to forget past Sights and offences,
was ont with his neighbors' boys, flying
a bran new kite, which his papa had
given him the day before, together
with a large reel OF excellent kite line.
The wind was fair and the pretty
kite, marked with blue and yellow fig
ures, rose calamity and strained against
the breeze, and drew the line out SO
fast it got twisted IN the fence, and
stretched across the walk. Higher and
higher it rose, like a glad, live thing,
that feels, for the first time, the Joy of
freedom. The boys shouted, and cheer
ed, and clapped their hands; and John
was 50 excited, to see it growing a mere
speck in the sky, he did not mind how
his string got twisted, or how ltlmped-
ed the motions Of passersby.
4 good many persons lodged under
it, or stepped over it, perhaps with al
impatient word at the interrupture :;
but at last a fine lady came along,
dressed in a sweeping green silk dress,
and velvet mantle. John knew who
she was. and lived on the block below.
He had often watched her when she
drove ont i'm her fine carriage, drawn
bya handsome. sleek pair of bays and
perhaps ha cnyied her little, and
wished, I'm his foolish, young, igno-
rant heart, that his father could keep a
carriage. The lady seemed 10 be in a
desperate hurry, and shetripped against
the kite line with such violence itsnap-
ped III two, and few out OF John S
hand. OF course, she stumbled, but
Instantly recovered herself, and sped
along as ii totally unaware that she had
caused tempest % grief and anger IN
g little boy heart. john fairly stamp
el with Ir-a. as he saw his beautiful,
new kite come iuttering down ont OF
the sky, ard lodge in the top of tree