The Republican journal., 1886-03-18
George Washington Johnson.
BY HELEN WILLIAMS,

|
down from the rckety old stage at my friend
door. when | met the hero of the followin.
sketch:
Whats your namey' asked
"Dorge Ioshtom Donson. Dit ape 90 yaw
boned boncho or me kill 90. Mes one of Z
| bo-hoys."
These last words were to the stick horse Ii,
was riding, and which he was whipping vic
| iously. George Washington johnson was TIL,
only son of my friend Daniel Johnson OF
''Dan'l,' as everybody called him, even thu
hopeful juvenile who had just surrendered hi
| cognomen to my demand.
| George Washington johnson was a smal
| specimen for his age. Three years Old and up
| ward, and with the whitest hair and pales
| eyes, rudimentary nose, and little blue drum
sticks of legs that looked like the picked shanks
| of setting turkey hen. But ''he had an ole
| head on him." Dan'l said, land as to bone anl
| sinner, he lowed that would grow"
Pm feared we overnamed him." said Danl
Il told Mandy it was bigger cud than the
calf could chew; but she stood up for it. Sale
she'd a named him that if he hadn't been big
ger than a nubbin of sweet corn. Oh, | reckon
he'll make a man yit. Come here, Bud; now
don't cry, honey"
That little fellow had been listening to oul
words, and had unexpectedly broken into I;
little whining cry. Now don't cry, Bud
said Dan'l, you'll be Il, big as Pap some day,
The child stopped crying, and measured
Dan'l all over with the graycst eyes, but a lit
tie diScOnsolate ''yal-oU-oo-oo" that he might
have kept'up all day without ncony chence tt
himself | found out afterward that he dic
keep il up bN the hour; and the qlleerest thing
about it was that he would talk at the SAME
time. Abating his howl he would insert his
words; then catching it up where he left off,
he would simmer ahead with it as if it was as
involuntary as breathing.
1t seems that his size had been Il subject OF
much comment. and that he was discouraged
about ever getting as large as he wished to be
So, after measuring Dan'l as have described
he cut off his ''yah-oooo" to say, "I'll never dc
it, Dan'l, yah-oo-oo-oo.'
"les you will; why, Lud! / was little like
you. onct. had to eat whole field of pota.
toes and several head of cows before | GOT as
big is am now
Il tant eat much, Dan'l, yah-oo-oo-I tani
ony eat two itty tates. yal-oo-oo."
Nov look here, Bud, are you going to STOP
that noise, sir:"
''1 cs sir, yall-oo-oo."
swell. then stop it,"
Il will. yah-oo-oo.
''Stop it now
~ ah-oo-oo-tant top too tudden, yah-oo-oc
bake my heart. yali-oo-oo.'
swell now, get ready to stop, and then stop
Ready now"
MOS yeddy. yah-oo-oo.'
''Now you're ready; do you hear? See my
great big hand? Its goin' to fall on ye.'
II are kit crining; don't YOU see me are.''
Well, that's Il good boy; now kiss Pap"
! stayed all night with my friend, and made
the acquaintance of his wife. In the morning
Dan'l was in the field early; il was seeding
time sat in the house reading and talking
when about nine O'Clock there little
Shutlling noise on the stair steps, as if good
sized doll had Slipped mot violently down. Ii
was George Washington johnson, as was man
ife>led by his familiar yall-oo-oo. His mother
being absent, | went to him. He was sitting in
a small heap on the landing; his hummocky
little knees We're drawn up under his chin, and
his arms We're around them. He was not hurt
but the fall had taken the wind out Of his sails
and there never had been much in his sails, nol
much sails to carry it,
~ ah-oo-oo-oo-oo."
"W hats the matter, Gcorge?' | asked.
lah-oo-oo-durn my luck-yall-oo-oo."
Ills mother came in and took him out of my
arms. When told her about his saving ''duril
my luck | thought she would never get done
laughing. "Such mite as YOU are to talk about
luck, Bud" She said.
Now the boy differed from all the children |
had known. in this particular; instead of fight
ing against being dressed, he insisted on being
dressed mmediately but his mother had to dc
everything as he directed. and if She varied
from his orders he started his interminable cry.
"Now wash me- he said. Il don't want
VAIN watty, want told watty.' His mother
threw ont the warm water She had prepared
and put cold water in the baSin but aS soon as
it touched him he Yelled
whats the matter now?' She asked.
II '>pise told Watty. Nah-oo-oo.
"W hat makes You dcSpiSe it,
~ all-o0-oo-too Wet-yah-oo-oo'
Laughing, she again prepared warm water.
There We're three cakes of soap in the dish: he
ordered each in succession; he refused to be
wiped Oh the towel she produced, and made
L.,V .l,, 4 t,,l,, I "A
selected one with red border. THE odder>
all >tratrhed. he said with IA trembe i'll his lip
prophetic of the everlasting CIV.
The breakfast dishes We're washed and put
away before he was up. but his small plate and
cup and saucer stood waiting, and the warming
oven held Il dainty rcpa>t for him. Lifting
him to his chair, his mother made all things
ready, but he wouldn't eat. His face betrayed
deep injury: tears started. and his mouth shaped
itself for the regular performance.
Tell muzzer what it is, honey"
''Pu,ldin," he articuated, feebly struggling
with sobs.
But, my darling knows folks don't have
pudding for breakfast
Take. dem"
She brought some cake.
Pie"
She brought pie also. Then he ordered cheese
and pickles and watermeonS (watermeonS had
been months out of market. BY this time his
dismal little howl had torn loose from its moor
inc and was afloat again.
:Mercy. mercy. Bud. don't know what TO
do viii Won ;, s,d his n,othnr
..Dit an,,ld.r ,,lata,, H. .ri.a. oud sha
brourht thr Maze i'''''>' "' ''"'
..Dit TINS ana so,,cers ,vhv don't vo,-
vah-oo-ooI Won dot anv san.ny -Y,b-oa-oo ;,
She hro,,~ht ems and s.urnr~
..Dit some chairs- yah-oo-no' and tell ! folkses
tum hrrkms. don't loin tn nat siourNv,l,-
oo-oo.,'
'oJf' "if call vour Pan in and he finds Won
hau.li,. Rud ynu,lI thirl ivhtmip,' M .t,,,cL Van
the hrst yon know"
..nnn yynr III dnyvu and o.t u;dn,o"
Aftnr fhr tirst hit Of mic", ,r.,,r. W. not,to
hn n,it rryinm and snamnd inrn,,irraL ,ith ~,
iJ.i
Sim DAMN to ha -, hill MAJ, viii, D.pI, bo
s,L ..I,m Ionin to eat a hmnarJ hm.brls nt
tatin. ana :, h,,mnrI touS ! ramtI'. '.,, ,';ta no,y
nn .,nJ hr;n,r nn, barn Miss, nnnson
..Whv honey sad She l,mrh;n,s immoder.
,tcIv .:ynu raI, eat thnm Ill # mm.. at this
nnt,tn inv anJ this IittI. niace "f in1y anI
hon at ,linner rot morr ;, f'N - -"
Rrt he insist,d ON c,ti,,, +ho,, tbun ond
.,tain snt un biS howl IrttnrI, Ii.a,ra,,aJ hi.
loht' m nc h oiIed ] an oI,eo' aiin was WohneLi @