Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-14
OUT IN THE RAIN,

There is touching story Of The famous
DR.. Samuel Johnson, which has had an |
influence on many u boy who has heard
it.. Samucl's Father, Michael johnson,
| was % poor bookseller in Licltield, Eng
land. On market-day he used to carry a
package of books to the village OF
Uttoxctcr, and sell them from stall IN
the market place. One day the book
seller was sick, and asked his son to 80
and sell the books in his place. Samuel
from silly pride refused to obey.
Fifty years afterwards Johnson became
the celebrated author, tho compiler Of
the English Dictionary" and one Of the
most distinguished scholars in England'
but he never forgot his net Of unkindncss
to his poor, hard toiling father; 50, when
he visited Uttoxctcr, he determined to
show his sorrow and repentance.
He went into the market place ut the
time Of business, uncovered his hcad-and
stood there for an hour in apouring rain,
on the very spot where the book stall
used to stand "rhs," he says, was an
act Of contrition for my disobcdicnce to
my kind father"
The spectacle Of the great DR.. John
son standing bare headed IN the storm
to atone for the wrong done by him fifty
years before, is grand and touching
; one. There isa representation Of it (in
, mnrblc) on the Doctors monument.
: Many man in after life has felt some
thing harder and heavier than u storm OF
. rain beating on his heart, when hc
remembered his acts OF unkindncss to
GOOD father or mother now in Their
{ graves.
DR.. johnson Todd, of Pittsiield, the
!, eminent writGa never could forget how
when his old father was sick and sent
! him away for medicine, he Ga little lad
p had been unwilling to go, had nladc.nl
q lie "that the druggist had not got any
!, sucl, medicine"
The old man just dying when little
y Johnny came in; and said to him, 'M!
boy, yonr father suffers great pain 'o
~ . L = nal, min, y
l. Johnny started in great distress for tn
o medicine, bnt it was too late. lh
father, on his return, was almost gone
g. He could only say to the weeping boy
- Glove God, and always speak the truth
for the eye Of God is always upon you
:. Now kiss me once more, and farewell"
l. Through all his after life DR.. Todd o.
i. ten had hcar;achc over that act
|. falsehood and lisobedicncc to his fathe
It takes more@ahan n shower Of rain
- wash away the memory of such sins. ID
p. Todd rcpcntcd Of that SIN a thonsan
J. times.
y. The word Honor thy father and tn
mother" means four thlnSs-always d
NJ. what they bid you, always tell them I'll
at truth, always treat them lovingly, an
., D. take care of them when they are sick
y grown old. never yet knew . bo
p who trampled on the wishes of his y
} rents, who turned out well. God ncv
- blesses % willfully dlsobedent soil.
rs, When Washington was sixteen yea
dc old, he determined to leave home and
;k, amidshipman in the Colonial navy. Aft
~; he had sent of his trunk, he went to b
his mother goodbye. She wcpt so b
L tcrly because he was going away th
- he said to his negro servant, "Brl
r. q back my trunk ] am not going to ma
L, } mother suffer 80 by leaving her"
re, He remained at home to please
''' mother. This decision led to his beco
'cr- ing . surveyor and afterwards sold'
lls- His whole glorious career in life turn
on this one simple act Of trying to lna
'n' his mother happy. And happy, too, "
D be the child who never has occasion
shed bitter tears for any act OF unkll
RES ness to his parents. Let us not lori
God that has said "Honor thy father
.., +hv mother n--l Y0uth's COMPANION.