Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-25
Out in the Rain.

There is touching story of the famous
Dr. Samuel johnson, which has had an in
tiuence on many boy who has heard it.
Samuel's father Michael johnson, was
poor bookseller, in Litchfeld, England. On
market days he used to carry package of
books to the village of Uttoxeter, and sell
them from stall in the market-place. One
day the bookseller was sick, and asked his
son to go and sell the books in his place.
Samuel, from a silly pride, refused to obey.
Fifty years afterward johnson became
the celebrated author, the compiler of the
English Dictionary" and one of the most
distinguished scholars in England, but he
never forgot his act of unkindness to his
poor, hard-toilng father; so when he WIS.,
tied Uttoxeter he determined to show his
sorrow and repentance.
He went into the market-place at the time
of business, uncovered his head, and stood
there for an hour in a pouring rain, on the
very spot where the bookstall used to stand.
This" he says, "was an act of contrition
for my disobedience to my kind father"
The spectacle of the great DR.. johnson
standing bareheaded in the storm to atone
for the wrong done by him fifty years be-
fore, is grand and touching one. There is
a representation of it Gin marble) on the
Doctors monument.
Many man in after-life has felt some
thing harder and heavier than storm of
rain beating upon his heart, when he re-
membered his acts of unkindness to good
father or mother now in their graves.
DIR. John Todd, of Pittsfeld, the eminent
writer, never could forget how, when his old
father was very sick, and sent him away for
medicine, he Ga little lad had been unwilling
10 I'D ID "A ka az tho Arnooict
had not got any such medicine"
The old man was just dying when little
Johnny came in, aud said to him, " My boy,
your father suffers great pain for want of
that medicine"
Johnny started in great distress for the
medicine, but it was too late. The father
on his return was almost gone. He could
only say to the weeping boy, Love God,
and always speak the truth, for the eye of
God is always upon You. Now kiss me
once more, aud farewell"
Through all his after-life DIR. Todd often
had a heartache over that act of falsehood
and disobedience to his dying father. 1t
takes more than shower of rain to wash
away the memory of such sins. DIR. Todd
repented of that sin thousand times
The words, " Honor thy father and thy
mother" mean four things-always do what
they bid you, always tell them the truth,
always treat them lovingly, and take care of
them when they are sick or grown old. |
never yet knew boy who trampled on the
wishes of his parents who turned out well.
God never blesses wilfully-disobedien son.
When Washington was sixteen years old
he determined to leave home and be a mid
shipman in the colonial navy. After he had
sent oil his trunk, he went TO bid his mother
good.by She wept so bitterly because he
was going away that he said to his negro
servant, Bring back my trunk | am not
going to make my mother suffer so by my
leaving her."
lie remained at home to please his mother.
This decision led to his becoming surveyor,
and afterwards soldier. His whole glori-
GUS career in life turned on this one simple
act of trying to make his mother happy.
Aud happy, too, will be the child who never
had occasion to shed bitter tears for any act
of unkindness to his parents. Let us not
forget that God has said, " Honor thy father
and thy mother. Youihs Companion.