Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1885-01-01

The last, long parting or the endless greet
ing,
Bid me good-byi
JOHNNY'S ADVENTURE.
Master Johnny James Jimmerson was
about half the length Of his name. AT
least, that is what the boys said when
they wanted to tease him. The truth
was, that Johnny, although nine years
old, was no larger than seven year-old-
boy, and for an ambitious little chap
like John James Jimmerson, it really
was mortifying to be patted on the back
by grown friends Of the family and told
not to be discouraged, he would be as
big as any of them by-and-by." But
when the boys teased him, and said he
was only half as long as his name, oh,
then was the time to see those chubby
fists of his double up into ball behind
his velvet jacket, and to read as plainly
as words themselves, the terrible threat
expressed in the scowl which gathered
between the two brown eyes.
l am almost ashamed to say that the
threat, literally translated, meant
"When I'm bigger I'll punch their heads
for 'em, so now !"
1t was one afternoon about four
O'Clock, in the month of November,
when Johnny, who had just been having
Irregular time " with one of those boy
teasers he dreaded SO to meet turned
Indignantly from the group Of play
mates, gathered as usual on the sidewalk
before their parents houses (for they were
all near neighbors), and putting his
hands, still doubled up, in his pockets,
started for his own home, few doors
distant only.
ssHol John James Jimmerson's mad,
he is We know the signs on his phiz
-phiz-phiz-phiz p sang the boys
after him. They were only in fun, to
be sure; and, if Johnny hadn't always
flown in such a rage when they teased
him, which, somehow, made one think
of an angry little bantam rooster, the
boys would soon have tired of that kind
of fun, and Johnny would have enjoyed
playing with them.
But, as it was, our poor little nine-year
old, undersized boy, was often very
miserable. and, on this occasion, his
misery really seemed too deep for words.
SO he made no reply to the taunting
rhyme flung after him, but lifted his
head just as high as he possibly could,
and walked on.
Just at the foot of his steps he met
his fathers clerk, who had been sent
from the Office with message to Mr.
Jimmerson's house and was now return
ing.
s'Hello, Johnny" he said, walking
rapidly on, while Johnny ran alongside
of him, asking ''if he was going to papa's
Office
''Yes, straight as bee -line,' was the
reply, and the little boy decided it would
be fun to go, too.
''But will your mother allow you to
go SO far from the house, Johna'' asked
the clerk.
ssPooh, yes indeedl' n answered Johnny,
somewhat scornfully, and then remem-
bering that mamma was averse to his
going anywhere without her knowledge,
he added: "At least, she wouldn't care
now, because, you see, / can come hcme
with papa; and, beside, she amt home
yet from shopping, cause I'd have seen
her coming along from the street.
"All right, then, younster, come along,
but mind you don't get LOST
NowMr. Jimmerson's office was located
downtown, near the wharves, for he was
a shipping merchant, and Johnny had
only been in that neighborhood twice br-
fore. So he kept pretty close at the
clerks side, his brown eyes taking in
every thing around him, and his active
little tongue keeping up continual wag,
wag, wag, till at last the clerk began to
wish Johnny had not such an inquiring
mind, and one SO given to knowing the
why's and wherefores of everything.
Presently they paused before the door
Of high building. and the clerk said to
his little companion; '.Now, have an
errand upstairs here. Will you go up,
or would you rather wait here at the
door and watch that organ grinder and
his monkey2 You're such monkey
yourself, Is'pose you'd prefer watching
him, wouldn't youan
"Oh. I'd hundred times rather stay
here, " cried the boy, gladly, and I'll
wait right at this door, you know, till
you come down. .
All right, mind you don't forget
that, said the clerk, as he ran up the
stairs two steps at time, and soon be-
came SO busy talking business with the
man he had stopped to see that all re
memberance Of Johnny faded from his
mind.
Meanwhile, John James Jimmerson
had not calculated upon the monkey
mans" desire to change bis audience
and seek fresh ears in fresh locality J;
therefore when the monkey (sueh fas
cinating animal was hauled back from