The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-07-06

Yesterday morning a missionary man came
to our Sunday-schooi. and told us all about the
little heather. They don't have to be dressed
up, nor learn the catechism, nor sew patch
work, nor behave, nor do anything disagree
able. And they don't know the value of money;
they'd great deal rather have bright button
than gold dollar.
In the afternoon, when we We're ready for
church, Mother gave us each tive-cent piece
That's TO put in the correction box" says She
The missionary is going to preach. and your
father and | want you to give him something
for the hcathen."
On the way to church. Johnny said 1T is
mt the least use to send five cents to the heath
en-. They'd rather have brass button than
a gold dollar, and of course they would MT care
about five cents. And there's no candy i'll
heather land, what do they want of money,
anyhow"
Then said: IF l only had my button
string, we could each give button, and spend
the five ccntscs for candy, and so we'd be
pleased all round" Johnny said that was a
good idea: and there's button loose on my
Jacket this minute: and if | can twist off anoth-
er before the correction box comes 'rolnd, III
give ii to you. Kitty
| thought it was IA lovely plan. for Johnny's
buttons are just beauties. | heard mother tell
sister En- that they cost two dollars a dozen.
They look like gold. But when we got to
church, they made me go in the pew first. and
Father put Johnny beside him next the door,
SOS we could lit talk.
he missionary talked long time, and then
they sang : Greenland's Icy Mountains" and
then they went round with the correction
boxes. Father takes one of them. and they're
on long sticks like a cOrn-popper, and deep SOFT
other folks can't see what You put i'll. had to
drop in my five cents, and then mother and Elm
put in their money, and last of all Johnny put
in his button. He held his hand close to the
box when he did it, and then he looked at me
behind the others, and nodded, SO I'd know he
had his five cents all safe.
This morning we bought i've lovely squares
of tatfy. We didn't have time to eat it before
school, and when we Were go ng home Johnny
said; = Let us wait till after dinner and then
give everybody piece; and then I'll tell father
what the missionary said and maybe after this
he'll give buttons, and it'll save him Il great
deal of money.
So we waited, and after dinner, just as we
took out the candy to divide it, father pulled
something bright out of his pocket and rolled it
across the table to mother. She thought it was
money, and said: - Just what | wanted.' But
1t wasn't money; it was IA brass button.
. How did YOU come by this:" said She
" found it in the correction box, yesterday
afternoon, said father. - Some little rascal put
it in, suppose, and spent his money for candy,
and whoever he is, he ought to have Il whole
some lesson. If he was my SON"
And then mother said. " Why, it is lust like
Johnnys buttons." And sister En- said, ''Weli
there's one gone off his Sunday jacket. l noticed
it this morning, and meant to speak about it."
Everybody looked at us. Father asked what
we had in the paper, and John, is this your
button:" And what could we say but yes?
They called us unhappy children and sent us
upstairs.
We've both had wholesome lesson | had
one cause they said put it into Johnny's head.
For two weeks. father is going to put our pen
MES away for the heather, to make us remem-
Der
Johnny says he wishes he was a heather [St.
Nicholas.