Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-05
Little johnny.

Ii was bitter day out there 10 ILLINOIS.
In our Western home, we gathered close
about the FIRE, while out Of doors the wind
howled and shrieked, driving before it the
fast falling suow-Aakes, filing up every
path, piling it high in the corners Of fences,
or whirling it with binding fury into the
faces Of any who might be obliged to brave
the weather on such a day.
In little school house, standing far out
upon the prairie, the lite ones huddled
about the stove, slowly putting on hoods
and mitteus, they dreaded so to meet the
keen blast outside. At last they are ready,
and out they 60, the boys with rush aud
a shout, the girls shrinking and shivering;
the older ones holding their little sisters by
the hand. They are well on their way
home, when, all at once, they happen to
think Of the dinner pail. 1t has been left
at the school house, aud Johnny, bright
little fellow Of eight, is asked by an older
sister to 60 back aud get it. Johnny don't
like the notion much, but there is no help
for it. They must have the pail tor bucket
as they call ~ TO carry to-morrow's dinner
in. So Johnny sticks his hands into his
pockets, aud whistling to keep himself com
pany, starts back for the school house.
Meanwhile, the rest reach home, aud the
waiting mother inquiries for johnny. They
tell her Of the forgotten dinner pail, and
she looks an1ously out and wishes they
had left it behind. But the father, on his
way from town, will probably overtske the
kov aud brtp,, him ho,,a c. skn .dl.
fresh fuel to the FIRE and hurries up the sup.
per, and by the time it is ready father has
come, but where is Johnny? His father has
seen nothing of him, although he came
right by the school house, straight on the
road home.
lie can but tremble as he thinks of the
beating snow aud bitter cold, out of which
he has Just come. But he tries hard to
keep the pain in his heart out Of his voice,
as he says Probably John got off the
track bit, and we shall find him at Mr..
Browns But Johnny is not found at Mr.
Browns, or at any Of the few scattered
homes on that broad prairie On, TILL dark,
and after, they search and shout. But no
Johnny answers back. Only the shriekipg
wind, and whirling snow, give answer to
ear and eye. All through the next day.
and the next, they seek for the missing
boy, but they fnd no trace Of little Johnny
For many nights as the mother listens to the
bowling Of the wolves, she shudders as she
tbiuks what may have been the fate of her
darling boy.
Johnny reached the sohool-house, got the
dinner-pail, fingered a moment by the
stove, from which the warmth had not yet
gone and again started home. There were
no trees or fences along the way to guide
him, but johnny never thought Of getting
lost, be had been over the road so many
times He thought he would Just keep
straight along before the wind, and he
would be sure to reach home all right. So
on be trudged, that treacherous wind all
the time putting him farther aud farther
/ from his home. At last he began TO be
very tired, and sleepy. There was big
stone. He didn't remember ever seeing it
before but he was too tired to think much
about that. lie would sit down aud rest a
bit. So he sat down by the big stone lie
had been very cold, but he did not seem to
feel it so much now, only he was so sleepy.
So he laid his head down on the little hand,
and drowscd minute. Then he thought
he was at home, and must get ready to 20
to bed. He pulled off one little boot and
stocking and was so sleepy, he could do no
more So be laid his head upon his hand
ONE more, and "fell asleep" And the
angels voices must have greeted little
Johuny's ears when he awoke.
A hunter found the little body many
days after. The wolves had howled back
and forth across the prairie, but God had
never let them touch little Johnny, but bad
kept him that his mother might see how
peacefully he had died. One little boot
was off and the stocking stuffed into it
just as his mother had taught him to do al
home, and then he was so sleepy he could
do no more, but had gone to sleep with q
gentle smile upon his face, and by thai
peaceful look they knew that God did moi
let him suffer, but that the Saviour's armi
were about him, aud in them he fell asleep