The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-03-28
JOhnny's Trouble.

1t was mel 1t was mel"
| Margaret FandeGrJt. in april Vide A,ooke.
Johnny's Trouble.
"What troubles you, johnny" said a
lady to little 10-year-old boy, who
stood in the doorway, with a swelling
throat and tear stained face, trying hard
to keep back the tears that would steal
from under the long, dark lashes, and to
choke down the sobs that would betray
the rising grief. He replied "They don't
care one bit for me-"
"Who does not care ono bit for the
little boy?"
"Pa and ma don't"
why, yes, they do, child" said the
lady, at the same time stroking down
the glossy rings of hair on the boys
head. IF they did not care for you
and love you more than words can tell
they would not get you so many nice
clothes to wear and such variety of
pretty toys to amuse you and good
books to instruct you. Be sure, nv
dear boy, they do love you ever and
ever SO much"
well, they don't ever act as if m
did. They don't say they love me, and
they're alays tellin' me I'm the worst
boy they ever see, and 1 don't think
they'd care if m didn't have any little
boy"
Oh, Johnny! you must not feel like
that. You know papa and mamma
would both be very, very sorry if any
thing should happen to their little boy.
Don't you know how hard they are
working to make nice home for
you when you are grown to be man?
When their boy is careless and naughty
they feel out of patience with him; and
then they think he does not do as well
as he might, just as you feel toward
Tip when he does not mind and do as
you want him to-"
"But Tip is dog, and don't care if
do scold him; does hep"
Yes. Tip cares and feels as badly to
be scolded as you do. Haven't you no.
ticed how he always droops his ears and
hangs his head when you speak sharp
to him? and how happy he seems when
you tell him he's good dog and you
like him?"
Yes; and now I'll go now and find
him, and tell him that l love him Cause
1 was cross to him when ma scolded me
just now for gettin' my clothes so dirty.
L wish pa and ma ever had time to tell
me that they loved me. 1 guess 1
wouldn't always be doing somethin'
they didn't want DONE"
All! how many little hearts are aching
to hear those sweet words, Mamma
loves you," or Papa loves his boy"
Every day the little sentence may be re-
peated or demonstrated by gentle ca
ress, and it will never become old; never
distasteful, even though the child counts
the years of twenty, thirty, forty. even
to three score and ten. The musical ca
dence of the words, Il love you" will
ever be sweet to the listening ear"
Many parents seem to think it makes
the little 5-year-old boy unmanly to be
petted; for him to sit upon lap is almost
disgrace; indeed, many a child is rid
iculed till its cheeks burn with shame
because he shows an inclination to be
caressed by the mother he has been
heretofore taught to feel was all the
world to him. He is early turned off to
be pas man." Alas for the little fell
low, PA" is never demonstrative, and
when johnny comes hanging around
his chair, hoping he may feel a loving
arm about him and kiss upon his
cheek, in nine cases out of ten he is
told to " sit down somewhere out of the
way"
What wonder is it that so many chill
dren learn TO feel that nobody cares for
them, and thus become reckless of their
actions for the present or future? How
many of those who now fill our prisons
might trace their unfortunate career to
their childhood, when, for the want of
love demonstrated in words and ca
resses, they learned TO be selfish and
careless of others veal or woe!
1t is all wrong to let child feel that
he is ever too old to be loved and
petted. 1t is loDe that keeps the heart
warm for holy resolves and noble ac-
tions. One who feels and knows that
he is beloved will have courage to face
the world, even though his garments
are threadbare and the larder empty.
He is sure the sun shines for him as
we'll as the rest of mankind.
On the other hand, one who never
hears, or is never made to feel that he is
inexpressibly dear to the family circle
lives under cloud, though he may ride
in a chariot and be robed in apurple
and fine linen"
Then don't be afraid or ashamed to
say, either in word or act, to the son VI
daughter, " love you"
The Dukes stratagem.