The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-09
Johnny's Total Depravity.

Johnny's Total Depravity.
Johnny was only three years old, and
as it was a damp day his mamma did
not wish him to leave the house; so
when she saw him clambering over the
threshold, she called out, "JOhnny, come
in this minute, or the rag-man will catch
you; saw him go by just now"
Johnny crawled slowly inside, and
then turned around and surveyed the
situation. He saw no sign of the rag
man anywhere, and his mamma being
called out of the room just then, he
sailed forth into the yard and had a
grand play before he was caught, not by
the ragman, but by Nancy, his nurse.
Johnny received many such lessons as
this while still in the nursery, and when
he grew older, and was thrown more
with his father, his education in this re-
spect was not neglected.
One day when his father was working
in the garden, he picked up hoe and
began to ply it vigorously in the wrong
place Immediately his father ex-
claimed, "Here, you rogue, put that
down, or I'll box your ears" But Johnny
had heard such threats before, and he
paid not the least attention to it. The
father, upon second thought, con-
cluded that he could soon smooth the
bed again, and so the little fellow fin
ished his hoeing, and his ears did not
suffer
\ year or two after this, Johnny's
father sold a horse, and his wide-awake
son heard him descanting upon the trans
action to a neighbor somewhat as fol-
lows
"You remember that little brown
mare of mine; just the incest stopper in
the country, only when she takes no.
ton to balk twenty men couldn't move
her. Well, there was a city chap up
here who took mighty fancy to her; I
took him out riding, and rs luck would
have it, sine never baked once; L told
him she was sound rs a dollar, and
wouldn't kick nor bite, and he gave me
$500 for her. L heard she baked six
times before he got her five miles, but he
got her to the city somehow That S
what call pretty sharp dodge, for any
body that knew the mare wouldn't have
given me $50 for her"
That afternoon Johnny's father sent
him to the postOffice, but he went fish
ing instead, and when he came home he
told his father that he didn't get any let
tiers or papers. His father knew there
ought to be some mail matter, and after
a thorough investigation, discovered the
true state of the case, gave his young
hopeful sound tlnashing, and sent him
to bed without any supper. As it was
yet quite early, Johnny had ample time
to reflect on the difference between
tweedle-dum and "tweedle be-
fore going to sleep.
Johnny, under such careful tuition,
continued to increase i'll years and In
wisdom, and soon acquired the reputa-
ton among his schoolmates of being a
sharper but he was not general favor
tie, for the average school-boy has more
respect for honesty than most people
think.
When he was about II years old he
entered the school-room one morning
and found no one there, but he did find
bright silver quarter lying on the
teachers desk, and, by accident, it found
the way into his pocket. When inquiry
was made for the missing coin Johnny
was entirely ignorant of its whereabouts
but circumstances conspired to throw
suspicion toward him, and search re-
suited in his conviction.
The teacher, who endeavored to do hel
whole duty in such matters, went to his
home and talked the case over with his
parents. Both were very much shocked
at the revelation his mother said she
had always tried to do her duty by him
had taught him the ten commandment:
and the catechism, and sent him to Sun
day school regularly. His father sait
he had taken great pains with Johnny
and had more than once whipped hin
severely for lying for his part he coulC
attribute the boys conduct to nothing
but the natural depravity inherited from
Adam
The teacher thought that he Nigh
have inherited his tendency to deceive
from an ancestor not quite so remote
but she was wise enough not to say so.