St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-15
johnny and the ''Correction" Box,

Yesterday morning missionary man
came to our Sunday school and told us
all about the little heather. They don t
have to be dressed up, nor learn the
catechism, nor sew patchwork, nor be-
have, nor do anything disagrceable.
And they don't know the value of
money; they d a great deal rather have
bright button than gold dollar.
In the afternoon, when we We're ready
for church, mother gave us each a five
cent piece. THAT'S to put in the cor
rection box,' says she. 1.-The mision-
airy is going to preach, and your father
and | want you to give him something
! for the heather"
On the way to church Johnny said:
at isn't the least use to send five
centses to the heather. They'd rather
have bright button than gold dollar,
and of course they wouldn't care about
five cents. And there's no candy in
heathenland, so what do they want of
money. anyhow9'
Then | said: elf I only had my
button-string, we could each give but
ton and spend the five centses for can
dy, and SO we'd be pleased all 'round.'
Johnny said that was good idea; and
there button loose on my Jacket
this minute; and if ! can twist off an
other before the correction box comes
round I'll give it to you, Kitty
] thought it was a 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 into the pew first, and
father put Johnny beside him next the
door, SOS we couldn't talk.
The missionary talked long time, and
then they sang Greenland Icy Mount
aims and then they went round with
the correction boxes. Father takes one
of them, and they're on long sticks
like corn pepper, and deep, so't other
folks can't see what you put in had
to drop in my five cents, and then
mother and En- 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 five lovely
squares of tatfy. We didn't have time
to eat it before school, and when we
were going home, Johnny said: ''Let
us wait till after dinner, and then give
every body piece; and then I'll tell
father what the missionary said, and
may be after this he'll give buttons,
and it'll save him 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 wantedr' But
it wasn't money; it was a brass button.
''How did you come by this?' said
she.
II found it in the correction box, yes
terday afternoon said father. "Some
little rascal put it in, suppose, and
spent his money for candy, and whoever
he is, he ought to have wholesome
lesson. If he was my son--''
And then mother said: "Why, it is
just like Johnny's buttonsr' And sister
En- said: "Well, 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 that 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
) ohnnys head. For two weeks, father
is going to put our pennies away for the
heather, to make us remember.
Johnny says he wishes he was a
heathen.-Ada Neyl, IN St. Nicholas.