Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-12-06
Written for the CENTRAL UNION.
Johnnte'. Country Store

Children live in m.m,c world of their
swn IL Is amusing 20 watch them in their
play. especially when lmpersonat,no other
people Bows are partlculsdy fond of
Representing persons whose lives are ex-
posed 10 danger. such as the slldier. the
sailor or the fiontlerSman In rural ham
lets where the proprietor of the grocery.
Ur 'store, ia esteemed sort of deInI god
the country youth consider IT the very
acme of delight to indulge in the recreation
OF playing store Two. perhaps three
boys form partnership which requires DO
formal documents to attest its validiiy-
aud the next thing in order is TO decide
upon location for the establishment. One
OF the firm desires to build it near a Gran.
apple tree III his fathers garden; another
proposes the back porch of bis house.
Finally the question OF location is decided
aiier considerable dispute. for each boy
VIII express an opinion diauletrlcally Cd
posiie nom that of his other companions.
long. narrow minded shoe box is called
INTO -aquisltIon and made to serve for a
counter. As the store is situated on the
premises of JonnnIe's father, OF course
johnnie is allowed 10 assume tine authorlta-
tive dignity OF the head # the firm. and
he proa1ly calls himself the ''5oss''
Ihe first day is devoted 10 filling the
store with stock in trade, which Is almost
wholly Composed of home manufacture.
Johnnie spends his weeks allowance for
suck o. lIcorlce, which is Gu; up into
small chunks and dissolved in a bottle OF
water This delicious decoction is in high
favor among the customers who come
around aud drink 1t in the conventional
manner OF old topers. The principal
merchandise of the ''s;ore' usually con-
sists OF paper Sinimiils, kites, willow
whistles and pop-guns, all OF domestic
manufacture. Then there are apples, soda
crackers and raisins. the two latter being
high-prced luXuries, because great risk is
involved In procuring them from the paa-
try when mother OF the treacherous SHRED
gir.' is not around If johnnie can find
courage 10 smuggle a can of preserves
from the cellar and place it on exhibition
II is q big advertisement for the buslpess
and tends to draw trade from rIvsl stores
of the nJghborhood.
Whenever Johnaie or his partners ven
e1AS w 'AoAt AVA SsD-Og NJ eANAeNA
with ''the bet the house affords. This
seems TO be departure from the usual
cus,om OF strict business men, hut 1t
works well among the boys. The cIrcl-
lating medium used IS pins and buttons,
and many a mother pln-cashiOn and but
tLn-bOx nave, in cOnseq Ience. suffered
frequent and extensive loss When the
little robbers are deiecied in depicting the
home stock OF pins and buttons they are
compelled TO search tor currency on the
street aud in garbage piles. One button
is considered equivalent 10 three pins, and
many an amateur merchant retires from
business with pins and buttons enough to
stock a small sized business.
Truly, there is much innocent amuse-
ment IN ''playing sto-e, and little does
The small boy ih.nk about commercial re
lations and hafIiships while enjoying the
past-tlme Of conducting his store"
Z Il. ID.