The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-30
Plenty of Time.

Plenty of Time.
Johnny" said Mr.. Gray to his little
son, "do You see that pile of brush and
rubbish over there | want to see that
all cleared away to-day. The brush
you must chop up into frewood for
your mother, and the other rubbish
must be gathered into pile, and to-
night you may have bonfire"
eyes, sir, answered Johnny, care
lessly. He was building a miniature
ship, and was wholly occupied with his
masts and sails.
Remember to have it all done by
tonight" said his father, rs he rode
away
THAT little bit of work won't keep
me long. I'll just finish shaping this
rudder, Their I'll go at it, " said Johnny,
whiting away.
How fast the moments slip by when
we are not thinking about them
Johnny thought it would only take him
few minutes to finish his rudder, so he
did it, but. that finished, something
else was begun, until Johnny was sur
prised to hear the bell ring for school.
odd you chop the brush, Johnny ?"
askedhis mother, as he flew into the din
ing-room after his books.
"No, mother, I'll do it at noon. I'll
have plenty of time," said Johnny, as
he hurried off.
But Johnny was unfortunate that
morning. He had put off studying his
lesson until just few moments before
his class was called. The result was
he missed and was kept in at noon to
learn it. When he had recited it per-
fectly, after studying nearly all the noon
spell, he found that he had just twenty
minutes left in which to go home, eat
his dinner and get back to school. No
time for cutting brush, surely; but l
regret to say that Johnny had not once
thought of the brush since he left home
in the morning. That afternoon the
boys had planned to go out in the woods
after school to gather nuts. The girls.
some of them, were going with them,
waited for. Johnny ran home to leave
his books and ask his mothers permits
sion.
ooh, mother" he exclaimed, " the
children are all going off to the woods
to gather nuts. l am going too. I'll be
back before dark.
"But, Johnny, how about that pile
of brush and rubbish? You know your
father told you it must be done, said
his mother.
"Oh, mother Can't do it to-mor-
row? I'll have plenty of time in the
morning. I'll get up early and do it
all before school. Say, mother, won't
that do ?''
But his mother shook her head as she
answered
q fear it will not do to put it off,
Johnny you had plenty of time to do
it this morning, but you neglected to
do so.
Johnny knew it was no use to talk
any futher. So he threw down his hat
and coat, stamped his foot, grit his
teeth and commenced to cry. Yes, he
actually did all that, although he was
eleven years old.
BY and by he heard the voices of his
schoolmates, and he knew they would
soon be along inquiring for him. Ho
could not bear to meet them. SO he
just picked up his hat and ran into the
garden and hid in the branches of the
old apple tree.
Johnny Gray Johnny Gray Ho.
Johnny !" cried Willie Short, the ring
leader of the party. Johnny, from his
retreat, could see them, but he answered
not word.
Very soon he saw them all talking and
looking, then little Minnie Lee went
tripping into the house, committee of
one TO look up the absentee.
Pleath, NTH Gray, we're going after
nuts, and we want Johnny" was her
message.
81 am very sorry" replied Mrs.
Grvy, /" but Johnny cannot possibly go
to-day. His father has something for
him to do which cannot be postponed"
She did not tell that it was johnny 8
own fault. SO little Minnie went
briskly out and told the result of her
inquiry.
"Too bad It's mean, so it it Mr..
Gray might put off his something, /
think" and so the children talked as
long as Johnny could hear them; then
when they were well out of sight, he
crept down out of his hiding-place, and
went reluctantly at his work.
IL was not hard task nor tedious
one: and if Johnny had worked with a
will. he might have done it all in an
bonr. But he was disappointed and
ont of humor, and so the work Jagged.
Tbensfe saw rabbit run through the
oardeh.sz ~ u
ct won't take me long to catch it, y
he said, dropping the Ak and giving