The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-05-31
JOHNNY FLAXMAN.

EVERYBODY said that Johnny Flaxman
would never be anybody, by which they
meant he never would be bright and
shining light in the world, or distinguished
for his intellect; yet, when | said ecera-
body, ought to have left out Jonnny's
mother, the teacher and the preacher.
JOhnny's mother was naturally partial,
but then she knew him better than any
one else could, and she was ready to main
tain, against the town, that her Johnny
had as good mind as any other boy or
girl.
will tell you one reason of her faith in
Johnny. Mrs. Flaxman bought a paper
of verbena seeds, and they looked so
much like very tiny sticks that she said
she would not" putter' with them, and,
giving them to Johnny, along with II
piece of ground for bed. told him to
see what he could make of them. Time
went on, from May till August; then
Johnny's bed OF vcrbenas was the admira-
ton Of the village, and strangers passing
often stopped to look at it with surprise
and pleasure.
Johnny's duties and little tasks were al
ways done in time. The COWS were in the
mi1king-yard precisely at haif-past six;
the chip basket was always full and in its
place, so that Mrs. Flaxman never had to
call. Johnny-chips-chip
The minister said he liked Johnny be-
cause he had such good and honest
heart, and, beside this, he said that john
nv Flaxman learned his Bible verses per-
fectly, never jumbling up the small but
necessary words-to, Gf, Nth, by-as many
careless children do; SO thas it was
pleasure to hear Johnny's Sabbath School
lessons.
His teacher declared that, although it
took long time to get anything through
Johnny's head, when it toas learned he
knew It forever. suppose if you could
have seen the struggle he had with the
multiplication table, you would have
smiled Nobody knew how long he had
studied it; but little Betty Tattle used to
plague poor Johnny, and say that he be
gan to study it as soon as he could talk,
and hadn't got it yet.
But the multiplication-ta table was moth
ing to lcng division; he had discourag-
ing fight with that All summer the
teacher went over it, again and again;
but Johnny could not comprehend how
to get the dividend. One afternoon, to-
ward the close of the term, a wonderful
light came into Johnny Flaxman's face
he had conquered long division at last.
Until he was twelve years old lie was al
ways at the foot of the class in spelling;
after that, anyone who got Johnny's place
at the head of the class had to work very
hard for it.
The fact is, Johnny was plant of slow
growth The morning glory creeps to the
gable and roof of the homestead in one
short summer, hanging all the way along
| its delicate blossoms. 1t is very easy to
coax willow -sprout to take root; little
sun and little rain fulfill the conditions
of its growth; in two or three years IT
gives in return for little care yards OF
silvery, spray-lik boughs. But it takes
an acorn many summers and many WIN
tiers to become an oak.
| When Johnny was about eighteen years
| old. q Trustee from district on the hill
came down to the valley school to hire a
| teacher.
"Our district is rough and tough
| place. - said Mr.. Eyre, as to wind and
weather mean. The snow-drifts cover
the tops of our fences; the winds seem
never to tire of blowing up our way; but
we have wood enough and food enough
and good horses and sleighs; and we want
q Young man that can really give us a
/ lift. Our big boys can't be spared to 30
! to school in the summer; but they are
| yerv anxious to learn all they can in the
| winter. IT.. continued Mr.. Eyre, tive
| could get young man who knows all
about algebra and arithmetic, and who
can give us lift in our Debating Society
and prayer meetings, we shall esteem it a
| favor and will pay liberal wages. But
our teacher must board around, as it is
| the desire Of the boys on the hill to have
/ him for company; and, as our living costs
us nothing, we can't pay money for his
| board.n
Unanimously the verdict OF the teacher
i and school was: ssJohnny Flaxman il
! the ONE to CO."
When some one asked Mr.. Eyre, in the
! spriur. now they liked johnny up in his
diatrict. he replied: - A more faithful
vounr man never drew the breath of life
The learning that the big boys Of the Hill
School Acquired under the teaching o.
/ Johnny FIsxman was something like .
miracle. Yon ought % zee the neat wit
ing, 70 hear the correct spelling, the pars-
Ing, and especially p SEQ he way tns
soys did thoss puzzling problems u
: I Johnny. bow did yo1 like tsachings' r
= shink II did me more good than 4
SO y school year.
Z Johnny Flsxmsn 4 o6 to college, !
I'D ~ minister % pretty, young Mis-
nesN Tattls.
Wy. Johnny was slwsyp the dulles
ho1 a 1chool. How did e happeni"
" he p9spefed by Greek and A.sil