The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-20
Aunsehula asords.
STAMP ON IT.

This boy name is Johnny NAuer, anu
he certainly has name that fits him exactly,
for wilder boy of his age would be hard to
find. He is tall for his age, and rather wise
looking, but he is really only few years
old, and whether he is wise acting or not,
can be Judged by reading this history.
He is never content with the army of play
things, such as kites, and balls, and sleds,
and drums, that reasonable boys delight in,
bat he is forever on the look out for some
thing new and strange, and queer to play
with.
On this particular day of which l write
his hopes had'centered on box of matches.
Now, Of all hOrrid things to play with, one
would think these were the worst; Why their
very smell is enough, to make one sick
Not 50, thought Johnny Wilder. The match
box had been carelessly left on chair by the
CRATE, and he had the room to himself, so he
decided to experiment
Fizz went one of the matches on the hot
CRATE, and Johnny laid it cautiously down
upon the carpet. He had no intention of
setting the house on FIRE. Not he he meant
to be very careful. Itsppttered little, and
smoldered little, and finally went out Il
don't believe carpets viii burn, said this
philosopher, wisely. They're too woOly;
/ might as well light good many Of these
matches, and gee good blaze. I'll blow it
the bellows, as mother does, and it will
an, and when the matches are burn
up, the fire will also go out, know it will.
No sooner said than done. Johnny
emptied the whole box full out on the car
pet, and lighted one at the CRATE and laid it
carefully on the pile. It was fine fun OF
course. They snapped and sputtered, and
blazed, and Johnny giggled, and blew little
puffs as them with his bellows, and fed the
flame with bits of paper from his pocket,
and was so excited and happy that he did
not discover that the carpet, wOolly though
it was, had been coaxed into burning, and
there was fast getting to be a royal flame
Alas for Johnny and Johnny's hOme--if
some one wiser than be does not come TO ms
rescue
AT that moment two doors opened from
opposite directiOns-Johnny's mother, brush
in hand, came from the kitchen to brush up
the hearth, and tidy the room and Johnny's
father came from the hall to rest himself
few minutes before dinner.
What a look of horror there was on that
mothers face Fire! Their pretty little
home in danger Johnny in danger! She
was very quick to think and speak
"iStamp on 1t, John % were the eager
words that came instantly to mind, and a.
most before they were spoken, the father
great, strong foot was stamping vigorously
on the floor, smothering it, crushing it out
and leaving smoking, black hole it is true,
but that was better than fame.
Such lecture as Johnny had How he
was shut up in the bedroom for an hour :
How he cried ? How fully he was convinced
that it was a very wicked thing to light even
one match to play with
At the dinner table, that day, the story
was told to Uncle Henry who was visiting
them, and to Fred Wilder, the olJesa son cfI
the house. Told with many shakilgs Of the
head at poor little shamefaced Johnny who,
Ser all, was only thOughtleas and Ignorant,
and had intended 10 harm. And Fred
laughed, and said
"What will that boy do next, mother"
Then, in the same breath, as he passed his
glass, ga little more wine, if you please,
father" And while his father COmp9sedly
filed the glass, mother, feeling sorry for very
red-faoed little Johnny, helped him to a large
brandy peach, with liberal supply Of juice
to comfort him.
81 was thoroughly frightened" Mr.. Viii
der said. "Why, houses have been burned
to the ground many a time, with less of
start than this one had. don't believe /
should have had presence Of mind enough to
know what to do, if Jane hadn't spoken as
she did. Stamp on it, john she scream
ed, the minute she saw the FIRE, and that was
what saved Us.
Uncle Henry glanced from father to moth, |
or significantly