The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-09-12
JoHNNYis POOR RULE.


greeabie One when Worked 10th
Ways.
Johnny James had boon growing sui
len for some time whenever he was
asked 10 do anything he did not exact
ly want to-
And when be once began yielding to
the inclination to refuse obliging pco-
pie, it was astonishing how the tenden-
CIV Increased to do less and less TO help
others.
Johnny's kind parents did all they
could to make him happy, and his
mamma especially tried every way she
could think of, to show the little boy
how wrong and selfish it was to want
only to please himself. No matter
whether little sister Matte had good
time or not. Johnny didn't care so hong
as he enjoyed himself and no matter
how tired mamma was Johnny never
could BIZ made to feel ii WAS his duty to
help her.
And things went on from bad to
worse, until nctual disabedience be-
gan, which WAS 30 promptly punished
that Johnny made up his mind Il was
no use trying to break rifles, but he
went as far as he could go without IN
curing punishment
One night, Mr.. James came home
and found his wife very much discour-
aged Aud to his kind inquiries Us to
what troubled her. she said IL seemed
utterly impossible to make Johnny do
right. She had eoaxed and punished
him; she had read to him from the Bible
showing how God hated disobeslience,
and naughty, unwilling Dispositions
had read and told him stories of chill
dren who were not kind and obliging,
but it was of no use, Johnny pouted
and muttered, and only obeyed when
spoken sternly to and obliged to.
She had told him three times through
the day to go to the post-oflice, and he
declared he had forgotten it; and when
sent for dozen eggs. he had managed
to carelessly break three, and didn't
seem in the least sorry.
well" said Mr.. James. T'll talk to
Johnny"
That evening he took Johnny and
said in very kind but decided way;
Now, my boy. your mother and
have tried every way we could, proper
ly, to make you a good boy, but, as all
our efforts have seemed to fail thus far,
think we must try new plan. Did
you ever hear 1t said, Johnny, that
It's poor rule that won't work both
waysP"
No, Johnny had never heard Of that.
"Well, now that MEANS" explained
his father, that 1t is a poor rule which
will do for one person, but won't do
for another. For instance, how do you
think it would do for mamma and for
me to treat you as you treat usp Sup
pose we disregard your wants, forget
10 do what you ask us and forget or
neglect to treat you politely or with
kindness, now do you think it would
do?"
Don't know" said Johnny, sui
lenly.
Very WELL" continued papa, now
l warn you, my little son, that here
after we may try what seems to be
your rule, and if it doesn't please you,
why there'n be only yourself to
blame"
This talk set Master Johnny to think
ing, and all the next day he took care
to do as be was told, and really avoided
any direct iiaughtiness, But bad hab-
its are not easily conquered, and, the
second morning after the talk, papa
called to him before breakfast and asked
him to go and get morning paper just
In the next street
"Can't Matte goP" he whined. II
amt got no boots on.
'Put them on Them" said papa II
want you to go, not Matte. :"
His papa heard the muttering and
flirging OF things around so customary
when Johnny was displeased, and the
moments went gliding by until the
breakfast bell rang, and no Johnny had
appeared.
Just as all we're seated at the table, a
cross-faced boy appeared, and seeing
breakfast all steamiag on the table he
asked, fretfully;
Cant 60 for the paper after break
fastp''
after breakfast. "
Johnny looked satisfied and went di-
rectly to the table.
why. where's my platep" he whned
again, land my napkin, and -
''Oh we didn't feel like giving you
any breakfast said papa, In SO surly
tone that Johnny looked at him in sur
prise.
81 want my breakfast dreadful.'
said Johnny, half crying.
"Well, you can't have it If you do!
don't feel like working all day Just
to buy breakfasts and dinners and
suppers for little boy who never feels
like doing anything for anybody but
himself, SO run away and don't bother
u.s.
"But there's milk toast and omelet,
my two favorites," said Johnny, really
crying;,
my fayorite speaker in the morning
paper" said papa; "but I've had to do
without it It's poor rule that won't
work both ways, my boy, SO now 90 into
the library at once"
Johnny thought there never was such
an abused boy as he, when he was ac-
tually obliged to make his breakfast on
slice of bread or nothing at all, but
the lesson proved a good one, for
Johnny remembered 1t Tor some time,
then he began falling into the same try
ing old habits again.
Papa asked him to weed the flower
pot one morning. but at night he said
he had forgotten it Mamma asked
him to please stay in the house with
Matte. Wednesday afternoon, because
she had a cold and couldn't get out and
at night he said he didn't stay in be-
cause he didn't feel like IT. and MANN
didn't say he must.
Then papa asked him another morn
ing to weed out the flower bed, and at
night when asked why it had not been
done, he replied: .'Cause you didn' say
must, and didn't want to-"
Papa went into the house without
saying word, and Johnny somehow
felt very uneasy. He followed papa
around and watched him closely.
just after supper papa remarked,
quietly:
'' / had letter from your Uncle
Fred thia morninO Johunv and vour