American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-09-04
Johnnie approached the hay-rifts with

johnnie approached the hay-rifts with
kind of awe
"Please, Uncle Job"
That gentleman looked up with smile !;
it seemed like dinner to Johnnie when
he was impatient for dessert.
"On time, eh, my boy?" said Uncle Job
cheerily; and then throwing down his
rake he drew Johnnie toward him and
continued
g was to make you present, believe,
Johnnie. And SO will-the grandest one
you ever had in your life You mayn,t
like it at first 1t amt top, nor a Jack
knife, nor anything like that; but it's SO
| beautiful that it shines all over; and
though it's easy broken you can break it
ten times day and yet use it again when
ever you like. It's meant for use, too; it
thrives by wear and tear; the only trouble
is to keep it, Johnnie"
Here Uncle Job paused, but Johnnie was
too absorbed to notice it. A present he
mightn't like, perhaps, though 1t was SO
beautiful it shone all over; present he
could break at will and yet use it when
ever he pleased; present 1t was hard to
keep7peither a top nor a jackknife-
What can it be ?" he exclaimed at last
aloud zss s+5sEs5. "a Us e
It's rule" broke in Uncle Job, soft
johnnie stared straight down into Uncle
Jobs eyes. No mischief there; rather an
earnestness deep and solemn.
The boy seemed bewildered He was
familiar with rules masculine, feminine
and neuter, but golden ones were strange
TO his experience. For, you see, Johnnie
was little waif that Uncle Job had recent
ly adopted, and his native atmosphere had
not favored these extra buds and blossoms
Still Johnnie knew what gold was. and
after minute he turned his blue eyes,
trimming with curiosity:
''ShOw it to me, Uncle Job, please"
Uncle Job made no movement toward
his pocket, though Johnnie eyed it closely.
He said simply: -
"Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you"
Johnnie's lip quivered There was no
beauty to him in the unfamiliar words.
He seemed lost in the belief that q great
disappointment was in store for him.
But the present." he gasped.
A big tear rose in Uncle Jobs eye. He
frightened his arm around Johnnie and
kissed his sad, little face.
"My boy" he said, will you say these
words with me?"
Johnnie complied, wonderingly; and
out upon the summer foated like hymn.
Do unto others as you would have.
them do unto yOu.''
Then continued Uncle Job softly:
johnnie, this is all / have for you
tO-udy-tneSe QOZen WOrQS. N0sglIL n all
you think it now; but if you resolve to !
keep it it'll make you so rich and happy
that you won't wonder Uncle Job thought
it worth half-mile trip to the meadow.
And, Johnnie-you know one gift don't
hinder another-there are hosts of jack
knives and tops yet to get, and hosts of
days to get them in" ana Uncle Jobs eyes
twinkled so mysteriously that Johnnie
was moved to merry laugh.
Johnnie had great faith in Uncle Job.
He could not understand it, yet he be-
lieved implicitly all he had heard, and
that, if he kept the golden rule, he could
be the richest and the happiest boy in
the world. So he listened eagerly to
Uncle Jobs explanations, and resolved
to try always to act toward others Just
as he would like them to act toward him.
wish I could tell you all the won-
drous trials he made, and how bravely he
strove to reap the promised good For
it was not always smooth walking in
Johnnie's path; he had his trips and
tumbles; he turned sometimes to the
right and left. But by effort he grew
strong, and his reward was rich indeed.
No boy was loved like Johnnie; none had
so many friends. And, to manhood
grown, no gift does he regard more CRATE
fully than the one Uncle Job gave him
that summer afternoon.