Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-03
VOL. I. NO. Z.

| And before Johnny had time to think.
he was lying in dark room that sum
shiny morningl He felt as if he could
turn dozen somersets. climb the tall
esttree in the yard. run five mile race,
wrestle with boy bigger than himself,
even study! But to lie here.
Can't read little?" he asked.
mo, dear. it might make your head
worse"
Please let me have my Chinese puzzle.
mamma"
"No. want you TO have a good rest. -
Poor Johnny tossed and tossed. and
thought that resting was the hardest
work in the world as the long hours of
the morning dragged on. BY the dim
| light he counted the flowers on the wall
papering. and watched the slow moving
of the little bar of sunshine which came
through the blinds. He said the multi
plication-table as far as he knew it.,
counted thousand, and said the alpha
bet backwards. After while, he
begged his mother to bring his two
year-old brother to him, but she was
afraid it might disturb him.
Noon-time came. and with it the
merry troop from school. Johnny
waited anxiously for his dinner, re-
membering with horror that DIR. Tanner
had tasted eighty times as long as he
had.
But no roast veal and tapioca pudding
came to him. Only bowl Of Cruel and
an amazing pile OF bread and butter
johnny turned away and cried. and then
ate up every morseL
He thought he was well enough to go
to school in the afternoon, but his moth
er thought not. She felt sorry for her
little pr soner. and came and read to
him. This put him to sleep. and when
he awoke. the sun was low.
His sisters came and peeped into his
room, but his mother hushed aud sent
them away. He wondered where tho
boys were. When his mother brought
his supper OF toast and little currant-
jelly, she told him they had gone out
for ride. As it grew dark. she took
him to his own room, and soon after
they came rushing up. tired out, they
declared, but fairly running over with
fun and frolic.
20 johnny. such time! The Chirp
boys grandfather. old Mr.. Merriface,
came round at recess with his big wag-
on. and begged them Off and begged as
of! lie sent word to mamma by the
girls, and took us out to Chestnut
Grove. and it's just been splendid!
There was grapevine swing. and we
found snail-shels and such funny oak
balls. And such splendid supper tho
old gentleman took along! We pic
nicked under the trees, and we've
brought home lots of nuts; but you're
not 10 eat any tonight, mamma says,
for it might be bad for your head. And
they were all SO sorry you couldn't go,
too! 1t was jolly, l tell you.n'
Poor Johnny!
The boys who had studied hard and
played hard were soua asleep, but
Johnny had taken no exercise all day,
and his bed was no place Of rest to him.
He felt much worse than he had felt
in the morning, and lay awake long
time, thinking what a miserable day he
had spent Conscience was busy, too.
He felt in his very heart that he had de-
ceiyed his kind mother. A flush of
shame rose to his face as. the thought
came that perhaps she had
guessed how very little foundation
there had been for his COM
plants of the morning. lie had tried
10 deceive himself, but now, in the
darkness and quiet of the night, his
meanness and wlckedness stood out
plainly teforc him. and he got out of
bed and prayed Tor forgiveness for the
past, and help to better doing in the
uture.
The next morning he sprang up,
ceiling as well rs ever, ate just what
he wanted for breakfast, and started to
'chool on quick run, only turning
side TO jump over everything a lively
10Y cou'd jump over.
His mother looked after him with ~
mile. saying to herself;
you had pretty hard lesson
yesterday. my little man, but l think it
viii do you good. "-Sydaey Ddyre, ia
Roufhs Companion.